WILTSHIRE Council’s pest control team are no strangers to removing unwanted guests but due to an unexpected surprise, they have found themselves looking after some this spring.

It was back in April when the team were collecting supplies at County Hall that they first spotted two robins flying in and around their pest store room that stocks all of their equipment.

To their amazement, the team found that the little birds had set up a nest in an empty rat bait box on the top shelf of a unit.

After putting up signs to warn people about not leaving the door open, the pest control team decided to set up a camera feed to monitor the activity and footage of the robins - much to the interest of eagle-eyed council workers.

Ben Sargeant, who has been a pest controller at Wiltshire Council for the last nine years, said the team were surprised at the level of interest to the videos.

“Every time we go in there, the robin has been bobbing around looking happy and healthy and when we discovered on the top shelf, where we keep our rat boxes, there was a nest, we couldn't believe it," he said.

“We decided we would leave the mum where she is because she can stay cool in here and it is a safe place from any predators.

“We’ve started buying mealworms for her and so whenever we go in, we give a little whistle and she comes out and will eat from your hand.

“It is remarkable because she shows no fear towards us whatsoever."

Since setting up a home in the store room, five eggs hatched and just four days later the baby robins were pictured with formed beaks.

There are now more eggs hatched with the pest control team looking forward to keeping an eye on their progress.

Mr Sargeant added: “The thing is, with pest controllers, people usually associate us with going out and killing things but in fact, we are all animal lovers and so for us, having this robin here is just brilliant.

“We have never had anything like this before so it is rather nice. We’ve put up signs to make sure the door is kept closed otherwise the robin could fly anywhere in County Hall.

“We are only in there for a few minutes a day to pick up what we need so we thought we would set up the camera feed to try and catch footage of them feeding or see if there is any other robins coming in to bring them food.

“Since putting up the videos, we have had lots of really good comments. Robins are a very traditional British bird and I think they are renowned for getting in unusual spaces but to come into the store room and pick out a rat box on the shelf for a nest is amazing.”

The numerous videos can be found on the council's YouTube channel and updates on the robins will also be posted on their Twitter account @wiltscouncil.