VOLUNTEERS at Chard Museum are getting frustrated with mischievous squirrels and birds who are destroying its thatched roof.

Thatchers have been called to the council-owned property on numerous occasions to replace armfuls of straw which have been torn down by pests.

Museum chairman Barry Dillon explained: "The problem was first discovered in October when workers in the area told us that they'd spotted squirrels coming out of the thatch.

"We informed the council, who in turn called pest control, but they told us there was nothing they could do.

"Anyone who drives down High Street can see that there are patches missing in the roof and bits of straw on the pavement, it's a mess."

Squirrels were initially named the culprits, as thatchers noticed nuts buried in the reeds, but birds are also believed to have contributed to the damage.

It is a particularly devastating blow to the museum because the current thatch has only been on the roof since the beginning of the year.

The front section of the roof was replaced in February in a massive undertaking which cost thousands of pounds and took almost a month to complete.

Barry said: "So much work had gone into the new roof, it's such a shame that it's being wrecked already - not to mention the additional expenditure for the council."

Thatchers are trying a number of different tricks to stop further patches appearing, such as adding extra wire and netting to discourage any prying paws, but Barry is dubious.

"There's very little else we can do, we just have hope that they eventually move onto somewhere else or go into hibernation," he said.

His sentiments were echoed by wife Barbara, who added: "We're all very concerned, I know the council is too.

"We're tearing our hair out over what to do about it."