MP calls for bats to be left to live in churches

Labour MP Barry Sheerman has called for bats to be left to live in Britain's churches and cathedrals despite others warning of the costs of repairing damage they cause.

During a debate in the Commons, a Church of England representative argued places of worship "were not fieldbarns".

Sir Tony Baldry said around 6,400 churches are infested with bats causing significant financial cost and damage to cultural heritage.

Tory former minister Andrew Robathan said: "It will not harm bats to be excluded from churches, they didn't start there, they started in trees and wherever else it might be.

"And we need to exclude them from churches where they are doing damage because they are doing a huge amount of damage and actually wasting taxpayers' money that is already being spent on restoring churches."