Nutty squirrels climb up scaffolding in food raids
THE window is only open an inch or two but that’s enough for this intrepid squirrel after it scales scaffolding to a fourth-floor flat in search of a snack.
Poking its head through the gap, its paw poised on a decorative bowl on the sill, it appears to be ready to create any amount of havoc in its raid.
Residents say squirrels have taken over since scaffolding went up at the block 18 months ago as their 100-year-old windows are replaced.
Engineering professor Mark Miodownik MBE, 54, who lives in a top-floor flat with wife Ruby Wright and their two children, said: “The squirrels are constantly up and down.
“If you leave a window open they’re always poking their little heads in. They have the run of the place now – they think the scaffolding is all for them. If you leave windows open, they come in and steal snacks.”
Wrecked
Joyce Paul, 65, who has lived in the Sumner Buildings in the capital’s London Bridge area for 27 years, said: “They’ve been in a couple of flats and literally wrecked them. We had to get rid of our table and chairs.”
Another resident, Maria White, who has lived there for over 30 years, said: “One squirrel fell on my lap from the scaffolding when I was sat outside.”
Prof Miodownik was baffled why work is taking so long, complaining: “The scaffolding has been up for 18 months. They have not even said when they will be starting work.” Staff at Etec – working for the City of London Corporation – estimated refurbishment would finish in “six to eight weeks”.
The Corporation said: “Whilst window installations have been delayed, redecoration work has progressed.” It added an update letter was sent to residents.