Underwear-stealing monkeys defeated with 'Cactus'

A Hartlepool businessman has foiled the antics of the famous monkeys of Gibraltar. Locals on the Rock were going ape when the Barbary Macaques started stealing underpants from their washing lines.

That's when the locals turned to Hartlepool businessman Ray Liddell for help – and the 38-year-old had just the answer. He's sold them hundreds of his award-winning plastic spikes which can be fitted to fences to make life difficult for intruders.

Ray, who runs a company called Cactus Products from a unit at Usworth Road, in Hartlepool, said: "I have had six orders from Gibraltar alone for more than 400 strips, and they all seem to be to keep the monkeys out of the gardens.



"They are everywhere. People were coming home and finding the monkeys had pinched their washing."

Locals were watching as the monkeys were running down the street with their smalls, said Ray. He said he became inquisitive after more orders for The Cactus came in from Gibraltar. Ray asked his client why he was buying so many.

"He was an English guy who said 'they are running off with my pants'. You can't cull these monkeys and they get everywhere."