Tradesmen who have completed electrical courses may be needed more frequently in the Home Counties unless measures are taken to halt the damage caused by a species of bird.

Around 150 monk parakeets are now living wild in locations such as Hertfordshire after some were released in the mid-1990s and started to breed.

However, not only can they cause problems for crops and native species, but they can also damage electricity infrastructure with their heavy nests.

This is a problem that has already been seen in the US, where communities had to endure blackouts as a result.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now said it is to introduce an eradication of the parakeets, trapping them for rehoming in aviaries or shooting them.

A spokesperson commented: "This invasive species has caused significant damage in other countries through nesting and feeding activity and we are taking action now to prevent this happening in the UK."

Those who have taken electrical courses may also find themselves in demand in London, where work on the Crossrail stations is soon to start.

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