THE council's flying squad is on the trail of two feathered fiends who are causing havoc in a York car park.

Two mischievous crows - nicknamed Russell and Sheryl by frustrated drivers - are causing hundreds of pounds of damage at Askham Bar Park&Ride by swooping on dozens of cars to peck off their windscreen wipers.

Their reign of destruction was caught by car park bosses on CCTV.

Pieces of rubber from the wrecked wipers litter the scene and motorists have now resorted to wrapping towels around their wipers to stop them being pecked off.

But Russell and Sheryl's pecking days may be numbered, as a City of York Council pest control officer has now been assigned to catch them and have them "humanely destroyed".

John Foster, 48, from Green Hammerton, made a formal complaint to the council about the crows after having six wiper blades pecked off since November. He has forked out nearly £20 each time to get them fixed.

"I thought it was vandals at first, but a car park attendant told me they had caught the crows pecking them off on CCTV.

"I'm thinking of putting garden netting on my wiper blades to protect them.

"I thought it was quite amusing at first but the serious side of this is that people are driving off unaware that their wipers don't work."

Gwilym Thomas, Park & Ride officer, said: "We are aware that two crows have been causing damage to vehicles at the Askham Bar site. This is obviously a real concern for operators and passengers and we are working with the council's pest control team to catch them."

Crows are not the only birds known to take a dislike to car trims. New Zealand motorists have to beware a native parrot, the kea, which is just as keen on pecking off rubber windscreen wipers and window surrounds.

The kea, which has a distinctive cry like mocking laughter, is also known to get its kicks by sliding down car windscreens and riding on the spinning air conditioning units of tour buses.

Have you suffered at the claws, wings or beak of a crazy animal? If so contact Matthew Woodcock on 01904 653051 ext 305.

Updated: 10:58 Friday, April 02, 2004