Sneaky squirrels infiltrated a loft on the estate and chewed through a television cable, plunging residents into a TV blackout.

Pat Chambers, 65, of Riverside Flats, is one of the residents who has had to get by without her television.

She said: "It has been off for two months, probably longer. The squirrels have got into a roof over the way and started chewing on the cables.

"They are like rats."

The squirrel attack knocked out the television signal in at least 15 flats on the estate.

Repairs to the cable were not been possible while the squirrels continued to wreak havoc in the area.

However, resident finally got their television picture back on Thursday afternoon.

The Riverside warden said: "We couldn't do anything about it sooner because we had to wait for the squirrels to go. There's no point in re-wiring until they are gone because they will just eat the wiring again."

One lady, who didn't want to be named, blamed one of the residents for the squirrel problem. A man regularly opens his windows and invites the squirrels into his home for something to eat.

The woman said: "Last year we had a pigeon problem and now we have a squirrel problem because a man started feeding them. He used to take the damn things in.

"Now we have nothing but squirrels."

While many of us would be at a loose end without television for two months, Pat took the opportunity to catch up on her reading.

She said: "These things happen. It has been that long now that I think I'm used to life without television.

"I've not missed it too much because I have read quite a lot and there are other things that keep me occupied.

"I've been watching some videos and things instead."

Is your community plagued by hedgehogs? Or are blackbirds responsible for cutting your phone line? E-mail: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk to tell us.