A troop of mischievous monkeys have been flown to Scotland to set up a new home there.

The wild barbary macaques were sent over 1,000 miles from Gibraltar to the Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling to reduce the territory's monkey populace.

This particular rowdy group of 30 macaques - known as the "Middle Hill Troop" lived between the top of Gibraltar Rock and the town, and have been the source of no end of drama for householders nearby.

Ministers in Gibraltar believe that exporting the problem monkeys to Scotland is preferred to a cull of the animals, who have been causing trouble for local residents.

Craig Holmes, head of the macaque section at Blair Drummond Safari Park, said:

They had been moving down into the town and they're not stupid, they're clever, they know that there's food down there. People leave bins out and tourists feed them as well. Craig Holmes

The mischievous macaques were flown to Gatwick in crates. Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

The monkeys, aged between six months and 20, were flown to Gatwick Airport before completing their journey by land.

Blair Drummond Safari Parks' Animal collection manager Sheila Walker said:

A macaque named Sir Scoffalot Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

It has taken over a year of planning and organising the transfer of these macaques and we cannot believe it's finally happening. Sheila Walker

A macaque with a baby part of the 30 Barbary macaques from Gibraltar explore their quarantine enclosure at the Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Their new home is a luxury heated house and a 2.5-acre (1 hectare) enclosure with a swimming pool and trees to climb in.

The troop will have to spend 30 days in quarantine before being allowed to move into their new home.

From March next year visitors will be able to see the macaques in a new drive-through section of the park.