RESIDENTS in Ashton Keynes were left bemused after Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher unexpectedly popped up in their village.

It was one of four villages in the UK to be re-named after the celebrity. Residents of Ashton Hayes in Cheshire, Ashton Under Hill in Worcestershire, Ashton in South Northamptonshire and finally our very own Ashton Keynes were left stunned as their villages were taken over for a 48-hour period.

Last week, village signs were mysteriously changed from Ashton to ‘Ashton Kutcher’, flower beds sprang up spelling out the star’s name and the White Hart Inn was re-named the Ashton Kutcher Arms, serving 3.9 per cent Ashton Kutcher Ale – much to the confusion of the locals.

A mysterious bronzed bust of Ashton Kutcher himself was also spotted at the Ashton Keynes Village Shop along with an Ashton Kutcher Village Shop sign. Bus drivers also later pulled up at an Ashton Kutcher bus stop to let on passengers.

Residents were led to believe that it was the work of Ashton Addiction, a group of fans of the celebrity.

Bamboozled villagers were alerted to the news by leaflets, posters and signs, reading ‘Congratulations! Your village has now been re-named Ashton Kutcher’.

The take-over was orchestrated by TV channel Comedy Central to celebrate the return of Two and A Half Men. Bill Griffin, from Comedy Central, said: “It seems the UK has been gripped by a kind of mania for Ashton Kutcher. The stunt was genuinely meant in good humour and if any of the locals from Ashton Keynes were amused, bemused or in any way inconvenienced I’ll stand them a drink at the White Hart Inn or, as we like to call it, the Ashton Kutcher Arms.”

The new series of Two and a Half Men was due to air on Comedy Central last night at 9pm.