Feathers ruffled by invasion of the peacocks

NOISY BIRDS 'INVADING PRIVACY', SAY VILLAGERS

- By AMY REAST

RESIDENTS of a quaint village have spoken of their hell at being terror-ised by a flock of 40 peacocks, which they claim destroy their gardens and keep them awake at night past 2am.

The noisy birds have been ruffling feathers in Tutbury, to the point where council bosses have now issued a warning urging people not to feed them.

Fed-up locals say the peacocks trample their plants, leave droppings on driveways and vehicles and can be heard squawking from between 5am to 2am the next morning.

Villagers say the pesky flock has become an "invasion of their privacy" as they regularly climb on rooftops as well as munching on their vegetable patches.

Retired dinner lady Marion West, 71, said: "They're a bit of a pain - they're up half the night squawking and keep you awake.

"I squirt them with a water pistol if they come near me. If you're not careful, they poo everywhere, and it's such a mess. They eat your flowers too, they're a pain in the back-side. And when they walk on your roof, it sounds like you've got burglars."