Grandmother Rozamund Perrin, 65, found herself at the centre of what locals in Stokeinteignhead have dubbed “knicker-gate” after she hung her underwear out to dry on a washing line — opposite a primary school.

An unnamed resident promptly returned them through her letterbox with an angry note complaining about the unsightly garment: “It is totally inapropiate for this type of garment to be displayed opposite the village primary school.

“There are members of this community that would welcome a halting of this.”

Ms Perrin’s daughter, Charlotte Wilkinson, posted an image of the note and knickers on Facebook, prompting a variety of responses including poems and messages of solidarity.

Ms Wilkinson said her family is fuming at the row: “Feeling shocked. Seriously the small-minded prudishness of this village is unbelievable.

“My mum found this note and her knickers posted through the door this morning.

“I didn’t know there was a law against hanging your knickers on the line?? The prude can’t spell either.”

This is not the first time Ms Perrin’s pants have courted controversy.

They were the subject of a parish council meeting a decade ago.

Sister, Kate Perrin, said: “I think writing a letter like that constitutes harassment, how spineless and menacing to do that anonymously.”

“Temptation to go all out for serious offensiveness is huge. Maybe we could all donate our sauciest undies to add to the display.”

Ms Wilkinson was defiant about her mother’s penchant for pant-hanging , saying: “Sometimes I did wish she’d be less excessive with her pegs to thong ratio but not after this.”

Another neighbour composed a limerick:

Roz hung out a line of her frillies

But a neighbour had a touch of the sillies

To complain about knickers

Quite clearly not the vicars

Twas enough to give a lady the willies