IT WAS set to be one of the most unusual official openings the local MP had ever attended.

After six years, Jerry Netley's ornate brick garden pond was finally finished and his neighbours were determined to make it a day to remember.

As part of the grand open day on Saturday, the cakes were all laid out, the balloons were up and a giant banner saying Welcome to Jerry's Garden was flapping in the breeze.

Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson, who had agreed to include the open day in his busy schedule, was poised in the wings.

Town Crier Anthony Chamberlin-Brothers was ready with his bell while Handel's water music blared aptly from a portable hi-fi.

There was even a TV crew on hand and two press photographers to capture the moment.

The scene was set for a surprise Jerry would never forget.

At 11am as planned, proud dad-of-two Jerry, 55, a social services worker, drove up to his house in Aylesbury Avenue, Langney, after popping out to buy more pond supplies.

But then things took a bizarre turn for the worse.

To everyone's amazement, Jerry took one look at the crowd, shook his head in defiance, turned his car around and disappeared back down the road.

The town crier's bell fell silent.

Mr Waterson looked baffled and politely embarrassed.

And Jerry's neighbour Brenda Strevett, who had spent six months organising the elaborate open day, stood gobsmacked.

Meanwhile Jerry's wife Linda, also 55 and a social services worker, rushed to call him on his mobile in a desperate bid to persuade him to come back. But to no avail.

She said: "I'm not actually that surprised to be honest. Jerry is quite a reserved person.

"I am very proud of him for finishing the pond. He's thrilled with it and so am I."

In the end, with an absent Jerry and a confused gathering of locals, it was left to Mr Waterson, out canvasing for Tory votes in next month's local elections, to salvage what he could from the morning.

He said: "I would just like to pay tribute to the amount of work Jerry has put into building this garden pond during these six long years."

Several hours later Jerry had still not come back or called to say where he was. Another member of the family said: "We've not heard a word from him. It could take him two or three days to calm down. He's the sort of person who is usually on the other side of the camera."

Earlier in the day, Mrs Strevett had joked she would have to stage another open day when Jerry had finished his latest venture, a new rockery and patio in the back garden.

It had taken Jerry six years to finish the pond, a project he had squeezed into his hectic life. He and Linda look after two mentally handicapped young men, Tom, 19, and Paul, 20.

Yesterday, Mrs Strevett said: "Jerry did come back in the end. He said he just couldn't take it all. He said it was too much for him.

"I was a bit disappointed. It had taken six months' planning to get the town crier there and everything. I had to pay for it all myself.

"I went up to Jerry on my knees and said I was sorry for doing it to him. He apologised as well."

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