Strang issue with Sharepoint list - missing records

Hi,

We currently have a strange issue with a regular list in Sharepoint. The list in question shows a record count of 409 items when we go to "All Site Content" but once we click on the list and go to the all items view - only 225 show up.

I verified the view settings and there are no filters what so ever.

After hours of troubleshooting... I decided to open the list in Sharepoint Designer and found this:

A bunch of files are stored under the list folder with a pad lock icon beside them - and coincidentally, the number prefixed on the files are all the missing item ID numbers.

I decided to right click on them – and then clicked on clear checkout and all the items re-appeared – however, when clicking to edit the files in the front end – it is extremely slow….

Any idea what I should do?

Thanks

Martin