A Bradford family are being terrorised by squirrels nesting in the eaves of their house.

Angela Regan, and her three children, aged seven, six, and five, have had their house invaded by grey squirrels for the last two years.

The squirrels, which normally nest in trees at the back of the property, are getting into the house and defecating on the floor.

One squirrel tried to bite a next door neighbour on the wrist and another jumped towards Ms Regan's face from behind a net curtain. She was so frightened, she called the police.

The family of Averingcliffe Road, Greengates claim they are living in fear and the young children are having nightmares.

Miss Regan said: "When my daughter is waking up in the middle of the night too frightened to go to the toilet, because she thinks there is a squirrel under her bed, then something has to be done.

"All you can hear is scratching and the noise of them scuttling across the floor. I just want to get rid of them, they are disgusting vermin creatures that carry diseases.

"But it's not only the noise and the fact that it is unhygienic, they are causing damage."

There are more than four squirrels, living in either the eaves, loft or soffit, the space at the corner of the ceiling and wall. When one of the squirrels got into the bedroom it left its excreta on the bed, the floor and on the wardrobe.

The noise of the chewing and scratching around is driving Ms Regan up the wall. She said: "What the heck they're chopping away at I don't know."

When they are in the air vent, the amplified noise scares the children even more.

The squirrels are constantly taking paper and straw into the house to make nests. One of them even tried to chomp through the net curtain.

Ms Regan is too frightened to go near them, because they can be vicious. However her neighbour did try to catch one by throwing a blanket over it.

The house is rented from Bradford Community Housing Trust. In February, 2004 pebble dashing was added to the house and the gable ends were redone in plastic. The squirrels have chewed through the pebble dashing and have built nests in the gaps between the gables.

She said in the past the Trust had responded to calls, but the measures had not been enough and the squirrels have returned to build more nests.

Chris Hodgson, head of operations at North Bradford Community Housing Trust said: "A housing officer immediately arranged for our pest control contractor to visit Miss Regan. And I can confirm that they have now visited the property to deal with this matter."

Although Bradford Council does not provide a service which can deal with the problem, Carol Morgan, environmental health manager, said: "We are happy to advise people on how to address the problem themselves - on proofing their homes to prevent squirrels getting. But people need to contact private pest control companies who have specialist training and equipment."

Matt Barker, conservation officer for Bradford Urban Wildlife Group said: "I think squirrels can be a problem species if you have them nesting in the loft - they can chew cables, and eat the rafters.

"The only solution, once they are nesting is to wait until after September when the young have gone. You can block the holes with chicken wire, or cut back trees, checking first that the trees are not protected."

Miss Regan added: "I want them the housing trust to fix the gable end. I know you can't get rid of them, but maybe they can put screens at the windows to stop them getting in."