The mystery of the painted stones...

Well,s tone me!
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Oct 2015, 17:00 BST
Megan, nine, and Daniel Coward, seven, of Flakefleet Avenue in Fleetwood, have found a series of intricately-painted stones on the ports beachMegan, nine, and Daniel Coward, seven, of Flakefleet Avenue in Fleetwood, have found a series of intricately-painted stones on the ports beach
Megan, nine, and Daniel Coward, seven, of Flakefleet Avenue in Fleetwood, have found a series of intricately-painted stones on the ports beach

A Fylde coast dad has been stumped by the mystery of the sudden appearance of beautifully-painted stones.

Steve Coward, 51, was baffled when he found three brightly-coloured stones while walking his dog on Fleetwood Beach.

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He said: “They were just lying on the ground among the other normal pebbles.”

Megan, nine, and Daniel Coward, seven, of Flakefleet Avenue in Fleetwood, have found a series of intricately-painted stones on the ports beachMegan, nine, and Daniel Coward, seven, of Flakefleet Avenue in Fleetwood, have found a series of intricately-painted stones on the ports beach
Megan, nine, and Daniel Coward, seven, of Flakefleet Avenue in Fleetwood, have found a series of intricately-painted stones on the ports beach

The full-time dad, who lives at Flakefleet Avenue in Fleetwood, gave the stones to his two children, Megan, nine, and Daniel, seven.

Steve said: “They said they wanted to come and look for more so we did, and we found another eight stones.”

Since then, Steve has found seven more of the mystery stones throughout September and October.

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“We kept finding them here and there, “ he said. “We have about 14 of them now.

“They’re just small pebbles, about the size of a 50 pence piece.

“The biggest is about the size of a golf ball.

“Whoever has painted them has obviously put a lot of time into them.

“They are painted with proper enamel paints and the detail on them is amazing.

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“We found a blue one with a love heart painted on the back and the words ‘time and time’ written on it.

“The kids like the ones that look like ladybirds the best.”

The mysterious stones have become a major talking point across the Fylde coast, as more stones have been discovered on Cleveleys beach, and even outside people’s homes.

Steve said: “One woman found one on her doorstep with a picture of a flower on it.

“We have no idea who has left them.

“I like to think it’s probably an elderly person with time on their hands who has left them on the beach for children to find.

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“I’ve heard of people leaving one or two painted stones as random acts of kindness, but never this many in one place before.”

Now Fylde coast residents have taken to social media to track down the mysterious artist whose striking stones have encouraged people to lace up their hiking boots and go outside in the hope of finding one.

Susannah Howarth Wilson, from Cleveleys, said: “They are done with passion. They are very pretty, and a lovely thought.”

• Do you know who is behind the mysterious painted stones – or have you found some? Call the Gazette newsdesk on (01253) 361733

Related topics:FyldeCleveleys