A CROW is believed to be the culprit behind 20 attacks on cars and stealing rubber windscreen wiper blades.

In order to protect their cars from the crafty bird, drivers have resorted to covering their windscreens with towels, sheets and blankets.

7 A crow has been attacking car windscreen wipers in Braintree, Essex Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

7 Staff at Greenfields Community Housing have resorted to covering their cars with towels, sheets and blankets Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

The cheeky corvid, named George by vehicle owners, began his reign of terror on workers in Braintree, Essex, last November.

Amanda Bhavani, who works at Greenfields Community Housing, said staff have an affection for the naughty bird and don't want to see him harmed.

“George has attacked about 20 cars and even though we have tried to shoo him away, he will come back as soon as your back is turned,” she warned.

“We want to keep him and his friends here, but this is becoming a bit of a problem.”

We want to keep him and his friends here, but this is becoming a bit of a problem Amanda Bhavani

In a moment of sheer desperation, workers even bought plastic owls in a bid to scare him.

Staff at Greenfields added how George was also damaging paintwork and that replacing wiper blades was costing up to £40 a time.

Bird experts from the RSPCA believe George could be enjoying his own reflection in vehicle windows, or even be attracted to the rubber material the wipers are made from.

It isn’t the first time that crows have been known to ruffle feathers either.

In 2013, neighbours in a quiet street of Cambridge claimed they were rudely awoken by crows loudly pecking at their cars.

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While nobody really knows why they do it, Tony Whitehead from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, believes there are a couple of possible explanations.

He explained: "One is that they are seeing their own reflection and getting quite angry about the 'other' bird and are doing some distraction behaviour and pecking at something soft, which happens to be the rubber.

"The other theory is they could be attracted to something in rubber.

"If it is the first, people could try blocking the reflection with paper or something to see if that stops it."

Why do crows attack cars? Some bird species are naturally aggresive and territorial. When they notice their reflection in a window, mirror, chrome bumper, reflective grill, gazing ball, or similar shiny surface, they assume it is a rival bird and will attack the reflection to try and drive the intruder away. They may fly against the reflection, peck at it, rake it with their talons, or beat it with their wings. They may also strike up aggressive poses and threat postures in front of the reflection between actual attacks.

7 The cheeky corvid, named George by vehicle owners, began his reign of terror last November Credit: East News Press Agency

7 Workers have even bought plastic owls in a bid to scare George Credit: East News Press Agency

7 George overlooks the Greenfields car park Credit: East News Press Agency

7 Several workers have had their car targeted by the devious crow Credit: SWNS:South West News Service