The main tourist attraction in Cerne Abbas village (Dorset, England) is not its river, nor the streets lined with stone houses, not even the Abbey; it's its famous giant, a 55 m (180ft) naked figure carved into the chalk hillside.

Many would think of the giant, property of the National Trust, the same age as Stonehenge. But the Iron Age fertility symbol would have not been tolerated by the monks of Cerne Abbey and there are no records of it before the 17th century.

Some researchers believe it was made in the mid-17th century, and that it could be a representation of Oliver Cromwell as the Greek-Roman semigod Hercules, even if Iron Age settlements were found in the area.

Two weeks ago, the giant 40ft (13 m) penis of the Cerne Giant has been painted purple by the campaign group Fathers 4 Justice (F4J). The group claimed they had been contacted by a father describing himself as being the West Country's 'Purple Phantom'.

Purple is the symbol for equality. In the crops near the giant, there was a reference to a recently published book by Fathers 4 Justice campaigner Mark Harris, "Read Family Court Hell". "The only people who might be a bit upset are the couples who apparently regularly copulate on the penis in the dead of night because it apparently has magical powers to boost fertility. It'll be interesting to see how many local men complain of purple hands and knees and women end up with purple bottoms and highlights!" commented the Phantom.

"The Giants penis definitely has a purple ting rather than a bright glow but rumor has it the local council have been 'rubbing it off' - Rather them than me you don't know what might happen!!"

"The grass would grow quickly at this time of year and within the month you should be able to trim his bush.", commented the Phantom about the damages.