FED-up civil servants are keen to say bye-bye to a feisty blackbird that is wreaking havoc in their car park.

The testosterone-charged creature, which lives in the park around the Southfield House land registry office in Durham, has embarked on a vendetta against car wing mirrors.

For months, the bird has been landing on the wing mirrors of staff cars, then seeing its own reflection and, mistaking it for another bird, has started pecking at the offending image.

Some unfortunate workers have even returned to their cars to find the mirrors broken.

Barry Warriner, area manager for the office, said it had become a real problem. "It started before the spring and, at first, we thought it may have been associated with the mating season.

"There are a lot of cars in the car park, and now people either have to turn their wing mirrors in or put carrier bags over them."

Mr Warriner said that in its jealous frenzy, the blackbird leaves a mess everywhere, causing even more of a problem. "It gets so excited, it dirties all over the side of cars," he said. "It's a real nuisance."

Following complaints from staff, the office's facilities department looked into possible solutions.

But a suggestion to have the bird destroyed met with opposition, and because the blackbird is a protected species, this has now been firmly rejected.

Mr Warriner is now considering humane methods of dealing with the problem. "It has caused a bit of upset because one of the options was getting in an exterminator.

"Our facilities staff have tried very hard to come up with a solution. They have even been in contact with the RSPB and the RSPCA.

"If you want a nice environment, perhaps you have to put up with these things," he said.

"Whatever we do, there's going to be a downside."