'War on gnomes' ad sparks UK ire

Garden gnomes have made the headlines in the UK again after dozens of complaints were received in response to an ad by furniture giant Ikea.

The advert, which shows gnomes going to war with a couple transforming their garden, had received about 50 complaints, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said.

Some found the advert, in which the couple smash and kick gnomes in an attempt to clear them from their garden, "frightening", BBC reports ASA as saying.

The controversy comes just a week after gnomes made the news when a ban on them was lifted London's Chelsea Flower Show.

Ikea said the advert was meant to be "light-hearted", and the ASA said while it always took complaints seriously, it was "surprised" by the reaction and had no plans to take any action.

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