by Alex Claridge

aclaridge@thekmgroup.co.uk

When hotelier David Sharma went to put a cigarette out in his ashtray, he was shocked to find a blue tit had set up home in it.

The bird had built a nest in the wall-mounted ashtray outside Howfield Manor Hotel in Chartham and laid six eggs.

David, 44, has now converted the ashtray into a birdbox and it has become the blue tit’s permanent home.

He said: “It was a nice surprise and certainly a bit of a shock when I went to put a cigarette out and this blue tit flew out.

“It’s built a proper nest inside and laid six or even seven eggs.

“So I’ve now converted it into a bird’s home and banned cigarettes from being put into it.”

David said blue tits are one a number of types of birds who inhabit the grounds of the hotel in Howfield Lane.

Others include ducks, robins and a hawk.

“We do a lot to encourage the wildlife here and it’s great for people interested in birds,” David added.