Blue tit family at home in pub’s cigarette bin

An Essex pub has been forced to ask customers not to use its cigarette bin after a family of blue tits moved in.

The two adults and four chicks have taken up residence at The Alma pub in Copford for the past month. A sign asks customers not to disturb the makeshift nest and the birds seem content with the arrangement.

Landlord Derek Miller said the regulars “find it quite funny that we’ve got some extra guests”, and are respecting the birds.

An RSPB spokesman said: “It may look like an odd place to set up a home, but there’s probably a quite a bit of room in there to build a nice warm nest.”