Emma Thompson's mum spins some Harry Potter style magic on statue thieves

But now it would seem the star's mother, actress Phyllida Law, has turned to casting spells of her own - after thieves stole two treasured garden statues.

Mrs Law, 75, has warned the crooks responsible that unless her ornaments are returned, they will be cursed.

The stone creatures were taken from the wall in front of her home in Hampstead, North-West London, last week.

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A cat, a dog, a hedgehog and a frog remain but there are two large holes where the others once sat.

Mrs Law - star of films including Peter's Friends - urged the thieves to do the right thing by putting up a placard in her garden, saying: "Be so kind as to return the children's stone statues ... otherwise curses will occur!! You have been warned!!!'

Neighbours believe the threat was inspired by Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, in which Emma, 48, starred as Professor Sybil Trelawney.

Next to the words are two mocked-up Neighbourhood Watch logos with a picture of a witch riding a broomstick bearing the words "neighbourhood witch".

There is also a photograph, believed to be of Mrs Law, dressed as a witch with a pointy hat, a long nose and a ghostly white face.

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Beside the front door, another sign, written in chalk, reads: "I'm so sorry, kids!

"Someone stole our stone animals!" And on the wall where the ornaments used to sit is written in felt-tip: "That is so mean" and "I'm so sorry, kids".

Emma Thompson's sister, former EastEnders actress Sophie, 40, says she was appalled at the theft when she visited the house on Friday. She said: "It's so mean, isn't it?

"I don't know how they got away with it. It's a horrible thing to happen."

Neighbours said they were at a loss as to how the thieves stole the ornaments because they were stuck down with a strong glue.

One said: "All the kids around here like the animals and talk about them with their parents when they pass by."

Another added they thought Mrs Law was trying to shame the thieves into returning the ornaments but feared her tactic was unlikely to work.

It is not thought the theft was reported to police.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan force said there was no record of the incident.

Neither Mrs Law nor Emma Thompson, who lives opposite her mother with husband Greg Wise, was available for comment.