‘I’ll put you through to an officer as soon as one is available.’

Jan then had to wait a few minutes before an officer came on the line.

He introduced himself as ‘Detective Constable Matt Davis’, and asked for her full name and contact details. Jan then explained that she was renting Ivy Cottage, Wood Lane, and that someone, or possibly more than one person, had been coming into the garden after dark. She said she thought they were getting in through a hole in the hedge at the rear of the property, which backed onto Coleshaw Woods. He asked for the dates and times of the incidents, and then said, ‘Did you get a good look at the intruder?’

‘No, it was too dark. Just a shadow, really. But there are prints in the earth where they’re coming through.’

‘OK. I’ll take a look. Will you be in at around three o’clock this afternoon?’

‘Yes, I can be.’

‘I’ve got to visit someone in Merryless first, so I’ll stop by after. Although hopefully now you’ve secured the gap it won’t happen again.’

‘Thank you,’ Jan said, pleased he was taking her concerns seriously. ‘Have you had any other reports of this happening? I’ve only been in the cottage a few weeks, but judging from the footprints it could have been going on for some time.’

‘Not as far as I’m aware,’ Matt Davis replied. ‘In the summer we sometimes have problems with teenagers messing around in the woods and making camp fires, but that’s usually at the other end, up near the quarry. I believe Ivy Cottage backs onto the thickest part of the forest.’

‘Yes, although I haven’t been in that part of the woods.’

‘Oh, you should,’ he said enthusiastically. ‘They’re at their best in autumn. The colours are amazing. Keep to the footpaths and you can’t get lost.’

‘I might give it a try,’ Jan replied. The local police seemed far friendlier than those in the towns and cities.

Matt confirmed he would be with her soon after three and, winding up the conversation, said goodbye.

Jan was pleased she’d phoned. Justified and exonerated, her spirits lifted. She’d done the right thing in reporting it, and although she hadn’t been able to provide a description, it was being investigated. Now she needed to go to the village store to make sure she was back in plenty of time for his visit.

‘Tinder! Come on, walkies!’ she called.

She checked the back door was locked, then went into the hall and unhooked the dog lead from its peg. Although Tinder could run freely along the lane, she would need to use it when they neared the village and had to cross the main road.

‘Tinder! Walkies!’ she called again. He didn’t usually need telling twice. ‘Tinder!’