Eight chicks died after a blundering council worker posted a roadworks notice into a letterbox – despite clear warnings the birds were nesting inside.

Lindsey Gorham says she took measures to ensure the newly born great tits were kept safe in their makeshift home in Staple, between Canterbury and Sandwich.

The 61-year-old taped down the letter flap, wrote ‘birds nesting’ on it and even informed the postman so he would deliver items elsewhere.

But those measures failed to stop one council worker who delivered a notice about daytime drainage works taking place more than 10 miles away in the village of Ripple, near Deal.

It meant the mother bird – who would fly to and from the letterbox – was no longer able to feed her young because the leaflet was in the way.

The Gorhams were left distraught when they discovered the lifeless bodies of the chicks.

Kent County Council has since apologised to them and says it was “a genuine mistake”. But Mrs Gorham wants people to be more aware of nesting birds - particularly at this time of year.

She told KentOnline they first discovered the nest with “eight lovely little eggs” at their farmyard in the village about six weeks ago when checking for post.

“We left it alone and decided to tape up the letterbox flap and write ‘birds nesting’ on it,” the shop assistant said.

The Gorhams kept a tiny hole at the top of the letterbox open for the mum to come in and out with food, and before long the chicks hatched.

When they gently opened its door to check on their progress, it seemed all was going well.

The couple predicted it was only a matter of time before the young birds would be ready to leave the nest.

Their neighbour told them he would monitor the chicks while the couple were away from the farmyard as they live in Aylesham.

But about three weeks ago, the family of nine birds became just one.

“Our neighbour said he had not seen the mum recently so we thought they had already gone,” Mrs Gorham added.

“When I opened the letterbox up, the [council] notice was across the nest and covered in dirt where [the mother bird] had tried to lift it off the babies to feed them.

“But it was too much for her so she went away and the chicks have died.”

The letter delivered by KCC was about drainage works in Sutton Road, Ripple - a 15-minute drive away.

It led the couple to question why they had received the notice at all, as the area is “not even close” to their farmyard in Chapel Lane.

“I was really upset as it was such a lovely bird and the nest must have taken her weeks to build as it was perfect,” Mrs Gorham said.

“We told the postman about the nest so he posted them elsewhere and we wrote ‘birds nesting’ on it so we thought the chicks would be safe.

“I could not believe how anybody could not read it. They either did not care or could not read.”

The determined council worker had somehow forced the notice inside the letter flap without breaking the tape.

Mrs Gorham added: “I know nothing will come of it and we do not want anyone dragged over the coals, but people should be aware birds will get into different places - especially when it is the nesting season.”

She lodged an official complaint with KCC and a spokesperson told KentOnline this week: "We have written to the resident to offer our sincere apologies for this incident.

“We want to assure them that this was a genuine mistake, and our staff had no intent of causing any harm in any way."

Great tits are widespread across the country and found in woodland, farmland and urban areas, according to the RSPB.

It is the largest UK species of tit and has a green and yellow body, a black head and white cheeks.