A fight between two men in the backyard of a Masterton house turned bizarre when one of the men hit the other with a garden gnome.

Police said the pair had been playing around at the weekend and one of the men had the other in a headlock.

He tried to break free and picked up a garden gnome and hit his adversary on the head with it.

The victim retaliated by striking his assailant on the side of the body with a piece of timber.

Both men, aged 27 and 39, face charges of assault with a weapon.

- WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE (MASTERTON)