Smokers have been banned from using a village hall ashtray bin after it was taken over - by a family of nesting blue tits.

The chicks hatched in the wall-mounted cigarette bin outside Astley and Dunley village hall, in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs.

Village hall co-ordinator Hazel Spicer discovered the birds when she spotted a pile of cigarette butts under the bin.

She said: “I was opening up the village hall for a group activity when I looked over at the ashtray.

“There was a very neat pile of cigarette butts piled up under it which I thought was strange.

“I wondered over and heard a ‘cheep cheep’ sound and realised it was now home to some little birds.

“The adults must have gone in and thrown out the butts one by one and then set up home.

“I didn’t want anyone putting their cigarettes in the ashtray so we made a sign asking people to respect the birds.

“It’s not the most ideal place for them to build a nest but it suits them pretty well.

“We had blue tits use the bin a few years ago so I’m guessing they must be from the same family who come back each year.”

A notice has now been attached to the bin, asking smokers to put out their ciggies elsewhere.

The sign reads: “Could you please use buckets provided for cigarettes. Birds are nesting in cigarette boxes on wall, thanks.”