THE two most "normal" Lincolnshire folk have been discovered after a four-month search.

As reported in the Echo, Zimbabwe-born artist Anthony Schrag, 35, set out on a mission to find out what county people think it means to be normal.

Mr Normal is a 77-year-old Lincoln man who is shying away from any publicity – but perhaps this is the Lincolnshire way.

And Mrs Normal is retired vet Ellen Clayton, 83.

The Normals are now set to judge a parade of "normal" items at the Lincolnshire Show on June 23.

Cakes and a pair of binoculars are said to be among the objects in the event organised by Lincoln Art Programme.

Mrs Clayton, of Cannon Street, Lincoln, said she considers herself to be perfectly normal.

"I'm nearly 84, I go bowling, I play boules, I go walking for miles and I don't have a carer," said Mrs Clayton, who has three grown-up children, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

"Everybody has a different attitude to what is normal – I think I'm normal."

She revealed how she was interviewed on the subject of normality in Lincoln High Street.

She said: "I was sitting on a bench sunning myself and they came up to me and asked: 'What is a normal person?'

"I cannot remember what I said. I'm a retired vet but I don't have any pets.

"I'm much too active to have a load of animals in the house.

"Years ago, I had a normal family house with children, cats, a dog and birds.

"I was born in Germany and moved to Surrey in England when I was 21.

"I lived there until I came up to Lincoln 30 years ago – I love the city.

"After the interview, I completely forgot about it so it was a surprise when I was selected."

Mr Schrag said he was excited to have found Mr and Mrs Normal.

Mr Schrag said: "Ellen said, 'I'm fit, fabulous and nearly 84'.

"It was her confidence in herself that reflected her normality.

"The whole project is about getting people to think about what they think of as normal.

"I'm interested in the idea that what's unusual to some is entirely normal to others."

Lincoln Art Programme co-ordinator Amelia Beavis- Harris said: "The project came out of our programme The Trivia Of Eccentric England, which is exploring eccentricity in everyday life.

"Anthony reversed the question to aim to discover what normality was. In essence, we are all a little normal and a little eccentric, there are constantly shifting boundaries."