AN Evesham mum this week pleaded for help after "squirrel wars" broke out in the roof of her home.

Clare McMillan said that her nine-year-old son Sam was unable to sleep at night as the squirrels fought each other.

"It's awful," she said. "It sounds as if there is a cat in there. Sam just can't get to sleep with that noise going on."

Mrs McMillan, of Lime Street, said that a squirrel had been living in the roof space of her house for around 18 months.

"It was all right for a while because it was on its own. Then a few weeks ago another one tried to move in. All hell suddenly broke loose. The same thing is happening every night. One of the squirrels seems to be in control of the territory and it sounds as if the other is trying to force its way in.

"It can go on for hours at a time and is impossible to sleep through. I have to do something. We have tried using poison twice but it has not worked. I think the one that has been there for some time has enough nuts it doesn't need to bother about any other food."

Mrs McMillan, 47, said she had spoken to a friend about it and been advised to get a device which emits a high-pitched tone and try to frighten them both away.

"If anyone has one of those they could lend me, I would be eternally grateful," she said. "If we can get rid of them we can get back to sleeping normally again."

l The grey squirrel, which is threatening to wipe out its European cousin, is native to North America but was subsequently introduced to Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa in the mid-19th Century.

l After many releases,they began to increase dramatically at the beginning of the 20th Century, mainly spread from Woburn Park in Bedfordshire.

l Some live up to 10 years in the wild although most only manage 3-4 years.