STARLINGS have chosen a lofty location to store the remains of their stolen harvest.
Staff at one of Bishop Auckland's most famous landmarks, the Four Clocks project, a converted Methodist Church in Newgate Street, were amazed by an inch-thick carpet of cherry stones which appeared 60ft up at the top of their tower.
Caretaker Frank Elgie made the discovery when he climbed up to oil the clock mechanism and blames cheeky starlings .
Mr Elgie said: "They must have stripped every cherry tree in the area. I cleared the first lot then more appeared.
"I have heard them bouncing off my car underneath. If they catch you on the head from that height it can be quite painful.
"The birds went away while builders were working on the centre but they came back about two weeks ago and brought the stones with them. There must be millions."
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