You might wonder what a blank cheque, chicken eggs and a pair of artichokes have in common.

Eastern Daily Press: Police were called to the scene. Picture: James Bass.Police were called to the scene. Picture: James Bass. (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2012)

They are in fact some of the weird and wonderful thank-you gifts offered to Norfolk and Suffolk police officers.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed hundreds of presents which were gifted to employees at the constabularies between April 2015 and March 2016.

Over the year Norfolk police recorded gifts which totalled an overall value of £21,665.87 – compared with Suffolk's £608.80.

This difference is largely down to cars that were gifted to Norfolk police for a set period.

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Their most expensive gift was from BMW, which donated a car valued at £3,579 for Norfolk police to use between October 22 and December 4 last year.

This compares with Suffolk Constabulary, whose largest recorded gift to an officer was a box of chocolates worth £45.

Other gifts that were donated to officers includes apples, tickets to events, a bouquet of flowers, alcohol and £20.

Many gifts offered to officers are often from members of the community they serve as a token of appreciation for their hard work.

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Such examples are officers who have worked in the community for many years or a victim of a crime who is grateful for an officers' work.

However not all gifts are accepted. Gifts that have been rejected include two brace of pheasants, a Christmas hamper and a bottle of wine and two packs of beers.

A Norfolk police spokesman said: 'Most offers of a gift are politely refused unless it is considered that a refusal would cause offence; if it is felt that a refusal of the gift would cause offence then the gift is accepted and the officer would report their acceptance to the professional standards department via their area commander, which is then recorded on a register.

'Other gifts, of a higher value, are referred to chief officers for consideration. They will then decide whether the gift should be kept or returned.

'In many instances the gift is passed on to a local charity or other deserving cause, and are often donated as raffle prizes.'