A SHOPKEEPER came to the rescue in the 'knicker' time after an item of ladies' underwear was spotted hanging off a village bus stop.

Shocked villagers in sleepy Chalfont St Peter looked on in disbelief as the briefs dangled above a pile of litter in Market Place on Sunday morning.

It is believed the bloomers were draped over the bus stop by weekend revellers but no-one can be sure.

Oliver Sansum, owner of Oliver's Opticians, Market Place, retrieved the underwear on Monday evening as he was working on his shop window using a step ladder.

He explained: "The bus stop is directly opposite the practice so I would have to have poor eyesight not to notice it. Someone had put a pair of knickers on top of the bus stop probably on Friday night. I think people were noticing them but they were a bit high to get at."

The optician would not speculate about where the bloomers could have come from but said that it was not the sort of thing villagers would expect to see in Chalfont St Peter.

He added: "We try to keep the village tidy and that's what we did."

Chiltern district councillor Peter Lole (Con, Austenwood, Chalfont St Peter) said the litter at the bus stop was disgraceful but could not hide his amusement at the saucy find.

He said: "I just cannot understand the mentality of people. Whether waiting for a bus or just meeting friends, why they drop litter rather than bin it. As for the item of clothing, well I ask you."

For more Chalfont St Peter news and views read Peter Lole's community news column on Page 4