More than 5,000 brent geese, which arrived in the Thames Estuary from Siberia nearly a month ago, are causing havoc with boat owners who have not laid their craft up.

The birds – which have flown 2,500 miles to be with us – are here for the eel grass, which after such a warm summer, is abundant. This in turn means the fowl are eating well and the consequence of that is that…well if your boat’s in the way look out.

It’s not all bad news however as the RSPB has set up a viewing point in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex and the hoards of twitchers now descending on the Domesday fishing village will soon scare the birds away to marshes which can’t be focussed upon.