How Emma Thompson's mother got back her gargoyles after using Harry Potter curse on thief

Spellbinding: Actress Phyllida Law had her gargoyles returned after she put a curse on the thief

In the Harry Potter films Emma Thompson plays a mystical teacher with a gift for witchcraft and wizardry.

And it seems life may be imitating ar! t after the star's mother, actress Phyllida Law, confounded thieves by casting a spell of her own.

The 77-year-old warned robbers who stole two treasured garden statues that unless the ornaments were returned they would be cursed for life by putting a warning sign up by her house.

Now two years after they were stolen the stone gargoyles have been returned along with a hand written note begging her to lift the hex.

The stone creatures were returned in a black rucksack with a message that read: 'Help me please. I have been very, very ill since I stole these. Please lift the curse.'

Miss Law, who starred in hit films such as Peter's Friends and Nanny McPhee as well as television series Kingdom, admitted that at first she thought the sinister looking package was a bomb.

She said: 'It is the most fant! astic st ory. A very good black rucksack was put outside my door.

'It stayed there for 48 hours until I thought, it is so heavy. What can it be? Probably bombs.

'I gingerly opened the lid and the two gargoyles were there with a note in a pocket of the bag.'

Back home: The gargoyle statues outside Phyllida Law's home in North London

The stone creatures were taken from the wall in front of her home in Hampstead, North-West London in 2007.

The gargoyles were positioned next to a stone cat, dog, hedgehog and frog but none of the animals were taken.

When they were first taken she urged the thieves to do the right thing by putting up a large white placard in her garden.

Written in bright red block capitals it read: 'Be so kind ! as to return the children's stone statues. Otherwise curses wi! ll occur !! You have been warned!'

Neighbours believed the threat was inspired by Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, in which Emma, 48, starred as Professor Sybil Trelawney.

Next to the words are two mocked-up Neighbourhood Watch logos with a picture of a witch riding a broomstick bearing the words 'Neighbourhood Witch'.

Well cast: Emma Thompson as Sybill Trelawney in the 2007 fantasy film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

There is also a photograph, believed to be of Miss Law, dressed as a witch with a pointy hat, a long nose and a ghostly white face.

Miss Law has now put a new notice up in front garden, saying: 'Thank you for returning the stone statues, all curses lifted, hurrah.'

She has had the rucksack! cleaned and will hang it on the tree in the hope the thief pi! cks it u p.

But she admits to one misgiving: 'I'm worried about the person who is very, very ill.'

Neighbours said at the time they were at a loss as to how the thieves stole the ornaments because they were stuck down with a strong glue.

One said: 'All t! he kids around here like the animals and talk about them with their parents when they pass by.'

Another added they thought Mrs Law was trying to shame the thieves into returning the ornaments but feared her tactic was unlikely to work.

It is not thought the theft was reported to police.

Neither Mrs Law no! r Emma T hompson, who lives opposite her mother with husband Greg Wise, was available for comment.

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