Motorists have discovered their cars are being stuffed with nuts by squirrels – amidst a ‘very abnormal’ rise in engine problems.

A garage in Petersfield, Hampshire, said vehicles had ‘lost power’ thanks to the rogue rodents – as one incident saw mechanics find 200 acorns stashed into one air intake pipe.

Employees at the workshop said the problem is ‘not uncommon’ – adding they have seen it ‘many times’.

Squirrels are thought be stashing the acorns in the car pipes to keep them hidden. 

Typically, rodents bury their nuts in the ground or tree hollows. 

The garage said it was the second time in a week they were having to warn people in Petersfield to be vigilant to squirrels storing acorns in their cars.

The garage said affected drivers were ‘very relieved’ not to have to shell out for any expensive repairs and found the incidents funny.

Leigh Belton, from the garage, said the increase in squirrels stashing their nuts in cars is ‘very abnormal’.

Leigh Belton (pictured), from the garage, said it is ‘very abnormal’ to see the increase in squirrels stashing their nuts in cars

Acorns found in the air intake pipe and filter compartment of the car are pictured. Mr Belton said local squirrels were responsible for the vehicular vandalism

‘Two in the same week, I guess squirrels have been busy’, Mr Belton said.

‘Rodents can cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage, mice and rats love the taste of wiring.

‘People do need to be aware, as rodents can cause damage to wiring and other components.’

The 58-year-old added: ‘The Golf was losing power and it had an engine light on, so it came into the garage like normal.

‘It had all the symptoms of a turbo charger issue, but in our regular checks which we always do we had a look at the air intake pipe.

‘We found the pipe was full of acorns. There must have been 100, 200 of them.

‘It’s very amusing, the squirrels must have stashed them there.’

Mr Belton stated local squirrels were responsible for the vehicular vandalism.

The garage said it was the second time in a week they were having to warn people in Petersfield to be vigilant to squirrels looking to store acorns in their cars

He added: ‘And this was the second time in a week this has happened. The last car had the same issue.

‘It’s not an uncommon thing, we’ve seen it several times.

‘We have had fan motors pack up because rodents have filled the air box with acorns.

‘We probably have three cases like it in a year but two in a week was quite abnormal.

‘The drivers were both very relieved and quite amused.’

Mr Belton said those who find evidence of rodents in the engine bay should use anti-rodent tape to protect wiring – which has ‘chilli pepper extract’.