AN unlikely squatter has taken up residence at a garden centre, to the delight of customers.

Staff at Dobbie's Garden World were stunned to find a blackbird's nest appear almost overnight between plants on display at the Durham Road centre, in Birtley.

An expectant mother bird does not appear to have had its feathers ruffled by the throng of weekend visitors, as it incubates four recently-laid eggs.

Assistant manager Jamie Grant said the bird gives off a stubborn air and does not seem likely to move until the young hatchlings are ready to leave home.

"No one can remember the nest being there when the plant trolley arrived at the centre a few days ago," he said.

"We don't think she came with the goods when they were delivered, yet no one is aware of a blackbird busily building a nest.

"It was just when someone was going up the aisle that the nest was noticed on the shelf.

"It just seems to have turned up overnight, and it's causing quite a bit of interest. The blackbird just sits there and you can go right up to it, but it doesn't look like she's moving until the eggs are hatched."

Mr Grant said there were no plans to try to move the nest, so the blackbird will stay for a while.