Church bell-ringers could be silent at Christmas for the first time in centuries after their ropes were eaten – by SQUIRRELS.
St Erth Parish Church has held a festive service since the 1500s but this year it will be silent – because of rodents in the belfry.
Church bell-ringers discovered its long pulling ropes lying on the floor – after the tops were chewed through by squirrels.
Verger Peter Pascoe, 71, is concerned that the church will not be able to perform the annual tradition.
Peter has since installed a guard in the window to stop the squirrels getting in but they have beaten it before and he fears the few remaining ropes may also be destroyed.
He says after finding the ropes he climbed the bell tower to closer inspect the damage and when he emerged at the top he noticed a grey squirrel dart out of the window.
Birds often nest in the bell tower but this was the first time that Peter had seen a squirrel had got in and quickly realised that it had entered through a broken grill.
The squirrel had caused £400 worth of damage to the ropes dangling from the tower.
Peter quickly made some repairs to the grill, but is worried the squirrels will return and destroy the rest of the ropes – ruining the church’s festive bell ringing tradition.
He said: “I noticed a muffle laying in the floor, and went up the tower to investigate.
“When I got up there I saw a squirrel darting out the window, it was moving so quick I barely got a look at it.
“It had chewed the rope up quite a bit, and had cause about £400 worth of damage. I don’t know why it chose to nibble the rope, maybe it was making a nest.
“We’ve had to repair the grill that was broken, so that nothing else can get through the window.
“We had to otherwise they would have come in and gone for the other ropes.
“The bells have been ringing out for hundreds of years, it would be a shame if we weren’t able to ring them any more.
“Animals do get in there, usually birds, but I have never seen a squirrel in there before.
“They are a real menace.”
