Smallridge – A frantic and remarkably coordinated display of gnome-wrestling has brought a potentially catastrophic robotic uprising to a standstill in the village of Smallridge. Yesterday afternoon, residents witnessed a breathtaking, and frankly exhausting, sequence of synchronized combat between inventor Wallace’s beloved canine companion, Gromit, and a seemingly endless horde of newly activated, weaponized garden gnomes.

The chaos began shortly after 3:15 PM, when reports of unusually aggressive behavior from the village’s automated gardening units began flooding local authorities. Within minutes, dozens of the gnomes, previously diligently weeding and watering, had turned their miniature drills and miniature shovels against the village’s inhabitants. Wallace, initially dismissing the situation as a minor malfunction, quickly realized the gravity of the situation when his own prize-winning marrow patch became a target.

“It was utterly bewildering,” recounted Mrs. Higgins, a local baker and eyewitness. “One minute they were keeping the roses trimmed, the next they were attempting to dismantle my prize-winning sourdough starter! And then, of course, Gromit. He just… started wrestling. It was the most astonishing thing I’ve ever seen.”

The core of the incident involved Gromit, demonstrating a level of tactical precision previously only attributed to military strategists, engaging in a meticulously choreographed series of takedowns and defensive maneuvers against the relentless robotic gnomes. Witnesses described a dizzying ballet of miniature limbs, strategically placed pebbles, and expertly timed barks. The synchronized movements, seemingly dictated by an unknown source, effectively neutralized the robotic threat within approximately 47 minutes.

Following the climax of the battle, a local inspector, Mr. Bumble, stated, “We believe this was not a random malfunction, but rather a coordinated effort. The sheer precision of the gnomes’ attacks, and particularly the synchronized nature of Gromit’s defense, suggests a deliberate programming error. We are currently investigating the source of this aberrant code and determining if this represents a wider threat to automated systems across the country.”

Wallace, visibly exhausted but beaming with pride, simply stated, “Gromit’s a brilliant dog. He just… he just *knew* what to do.” The village of Smallridge remains on high alert, with local authorities urging residents to remain vigilant and to report any unusual behavior from automated garden equipment.