A GREY squirrel named Cyril has made a Yarm flower shop his winter home.

The ravenous rodent is particularly fond of roses and sunflowers. It has munched hundreds of pounds worth of blooms - much to the concern of staff at Diana Kaye florists on the High Street.

Shop assistant Mrs Chris Andrews said: "We watched this squirrel just calmly walk into the shop on Thursday of last week and he is still here. We've named him Cyril. He's got a good appetite and he's very partial to flowers - I thought squirrels were into nuts? A single rose can cost £1.50 and he must have eaten a few of them. I wouldn't like to think what the cost must be!

"The problem is that we don't know exactly where he is. He rushed in behind the units and he' s not easy to spot. We've tried all sorts of ways of getting rid of him, but nothing seems to work. We even contacted the RSPCA and the pest control people, but they didn't want to know. I think they're only interested if Rolf Harris is involved!

"In the past, birds have come inside the shop but I've never seen a squirrel here. There are gardens and a church behind us, so I think he must have been living up one of the trees. He seems to prefer the shop to a hole on a tree.

"It's a funny situation but we just hope he doesn't die in here. That would be terribly smelly!"