Children's book about 3 kids, a cat, and an evil gnome

[kevsgirl]

i am desperately searching for this book i used to love when i was like 8. I remember it was about 3 siblings, 2 boys and a girl, and they arent supposed to cross this hedge...(i think it was a hedge) because of this evil gnome...(maybe it was an elf or a goblin or something like that), who steals children, but they did and they all ended up with these black dots on their faces (one on the forehead, one on the nose, and one on the chin) and the dots burned and the gnome guy ended up kidnapping one of the boys and to get him back this cat helps them and they have to talk to this lady in the sky and this guy underground and the girl has to keep this fire burning and lay in it herself when it starts to go out. Really hope someone can help me find this, i've been searching for months.

[showcatbenga]

It sounds very like Enid Blyton?

[mudskippa]

http://www.abebooks.com/docs/Community/BookSle uth/

Try this link, just post your description and someone will know it.