Emergency repairs are needed on a town museum after squirrels chewed through cables.

Stick to nuts! - marketing officer Marie Taylor warns a squirrel to stay away after animals damage electrics at Holly Trees Museum in Colchester. Picture: NIGEL BROWN (46292-2)

The museum has also found several loose tiles in the roof, and about £17,000 needs to be spent on roofing and electrical repairs.

Staff at the Holly Trees Museum in Colchester found the leak in the old library, which is used for education and meetings as well as being hired out.

After investigation it was found several tiles had come loose from the roof, and this was related to a wider problem.

Shortly after this, there was a power failure affecting the lighting in the room. Investigations found that wiring had been severely damaged by rodents.

Further investigation found the damage was due to squirrels which had climbed the virginia creeper vine and got in through a broken vent.

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Published Wednesday, November 16, 2005

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