HEFTY fines and prison sentences could be winging their way to wildlife homewreckers.
As spring takes hold, Greater Manchester Police is reminding residents that disturbing or destroying the homes of bats and birds is strictly illegal.
Householders, developers and contractors are warned that they could face prison or fines up to £5,000 for interfering with bats roosts and birds nests containing eggs or chicks.
Carrying out work such as clearing development sites, building alterations, re-roofing, timber treatment, pruning and trimming hedges may be illegal if nests and roosts are present.
The law states that if birds' nests are found after work has commenced, work must cease and not recommence until the chicks have fledged.
Detailed advice on how to remove nests legally and safely is available from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
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