Battle PCSO answers mosque's bird call

Back in May the mosque, in Mercatoria, St Leonards, hired builders to carry out urgent repairs on an external wall, only to find a pair of sparrows had set up home in a small hole in the wall.

After hearing about their unusual tenants, the leaders at the mosque stopped the work and met with Hastings police's wildlife liaison officer, PC Nick Marriott.

It was agreed to hold off the renovation work until the sparrows had raised their fledglings and PC Marriott made regular checks on the birds while walking his beat.

A few weeks later, the nest was found empty, meaning work could finally get underway.

However, members of the mosque were worried that once the repairs were done the birds would have nowhere to nest next year.

But Battle police community support officer Chris Dewitt saved the day when he offered up his handyman services.

PCSO Dewitt, who won a Battle In Bloom award last month after sprucing up Battle Police Station, turned his hand to woodwork, knocking up a fancy new house for the sparrows.

PCSO Dewitt and PC Marriott presented the finished box to members of the mosque who are now looking forward to welcoming the birds back.

PC Marriot said: "This really is fantastic, Chris has made a superb job of making the bird box - it is like a mini Coronation Street for sparrows, and grateful thanks go to him from myself and from Hastings Mosque.

"This is a great example of how working together as a community can resolve problems."