A FARMER from Much Dewchurch was surprised to discover a young brood of feathered passengers in his tractor last week.

John George, from Bowers Wood Farm, didn't realise he had company in his tractor until he noticed a wren frantically flying around the vehicle as he was completing tasks out in the fields.

As he stopped the tractor, the bird flew in and he realised she had a nest inside the cab.

John said: "She nested in the tractor last year but I didn't think she would make her nest in the cab this year as I was using it.

"I haven't disturbed the nest. I can just see a tiny hole where the mother flies in to feed the babies."

For the last few days, John has needed to use the tractor to put fertiliser on the fields but has been careful to return regularly to the farm and not to go too far, so the mother bird can feed her chicks.

He added: "When we're out in the tractor the chicks don't make any noise, but when we're back in the yard they seem to know their mother is near and start chirping.

"I have finished with the tractor for a bit now and I am hoping that over the next few weeks, they will leave the nest."