Blue tits set up nest in village’s ashtray

The birds picked the unusual spot to make themselves at home outside Astley and Dunley village hall, near Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire.

Village hall booking secretary Simone Taylor said the family had been coming back to the same spot for the past few years — but was unaware they had returned again.

She said: "We weren't aware they had returned and I often go to the ashtray and have a little check.

"I've only recently starting doing the bookings here but I was told about how they like to nest there.

"I know our former secretary was rather confused one year and finding a pile of cigarette butts under the bin.

"It turned out the blue tits had been picking them all and throwing them out to make room for their nesting materials.

"Now it will be a case of putting up a sign just to make sure people and especially smokers know they are there.

"We have toddler groups who sometimes go outside but other than that most people stay inside anyway.

"We aren't too busy for the next month so they will have hopefully have moved on by then.

"We assume it's the same family who keep coming back — they must think it does the job."

Village hall cleaner Hazel Spicer added: "We didn't know we had them again this year — I was only there yesterday and didn't see them.

"We've had campers at the site too and none of them said anything so they've snuck in quietly this year.

"They must think it’s a perfect nesting spot — but obviously it's not ideal.

"We'll be putting a sign up warning smokers not to use the ashtray while they are nesting there in order to keep them safe.

"We'd just urge people to be aware of their presence in the meantime as we want to protect their makeshift home.

"They have become local celebrities."