THIS row of houses in Somerset has earned the unfortunate nickname of 'Swastika Terrace' - because of the Nazi symbol in their brickwork.

The red-brick homes, in Yeovil, were built by a grocer called Thomas Chant who decided to dabble in property development in the early 1890s.

Andrew Clark, 49, lives on the row with his wife, Michaela, 46, and two children, Kasia, 23, and Billy, 19.

Andrew, a warehouse operative, said: "It's fine, we've only been here two years and it's nice.

"I know people who know the area must think, 'what the hell's that'?

"For the older Yeovil people it's quite well known, they know it as Swastika Street."

Chard & Ilminster News: RESIDENT: Andrew Clark outside his home in Grass Royal
'WE DON'T TAKE A BIT OF NOTICE': Andrew Clark outside his home

But far from having a sinister meaning, the pattern is actually meant to bring good luck to those living in the properties.

The swastika was an ancient Indian religious symbol long before it was adopted by the Nazis and was widely used as a lucky charm in Victorian Britain.

However, they bestowed little luck on developer Mr Chant - died just a few years after the houses were completed in 1894.

His widow and her sister lived in the corner house of the terrace until 1915. The house is now occupied by a veterinary surgery.

"When we viewed the house we had no idea, Billy, my boy, noticed it first," Mr Clark added.

"They were built in the 1800s so its a long time before Hitler started his business.

"It's definitely different, we just walked in the door and didn't take a bit of notice."

Chard & Ilminster News: DEVELOPMENT: Grocer Thomas Chant was behind the development, in 1890
SYMBOL: The swastika is actually an Indian religious symbol and was meant to bring good luck to residents