Baby blackbirds nest in 4x4 car engine at Porthcawl

The baby blackbirds have already travelled several hundred miles in their short lives

Birds have been known to nest in some curious places, but one family of blackbirds are more daredevil than some.

Four chicks were found huddled beneath the 4x4 car's bonnet by its owner, Maureen Morris.

Without her knowledge, the birds' parents opted to build their home in the car engine several weeks ago.

They have survived Mrs Morris of Porthcawl, Bridgend county, making many trips and appear to be healthy.

Mrs Morris, 56, said: "My dog Scooby began pawing at the front of the car and when I opened the bonnet I was amazed to see the birds in their nest.

"I touched them and they opened their eyes and beaks, expecting to be fed.

"They already had lovely black feathers and bright orange beaks.

"It was a complete shock. I've never seen anything like this before.

"I must have driven hundreds of miles with them sitting under the bonnet.

"Everyone is saying I've got the jeep that cheeps!"

Maureen and Sam Morris with Scooby, who sniffed out the visitors

Mrs Morris had even driven her Suzuki Jimny 4x4 on a 100-mile round trip to a recent family wedding.

She said: "It doesn't appear to have done them any harm but I don't know what the parents make of it.

"One minute their nest is on the driveway of my home - the next it has gone.

"Now we know they are there we can watch the birds being fed by their mother - she flies under the car to reach them."

Experts have advised her to carry on driving as normal until they fly the nest.

Kirsi Peck, from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), said: "Blackbirds look for somewhere hidden and safe to build their nests.

"The chicks are getting to the stage of leaving the nest and are close to fledging."