THE car park at Highnam Woods nature reserve – famed for its nightingales – has been closed by the RSPB after becoming a haven for sex perverts.

The charity says the reserve on the A40 at Churcham was being used so often for 'inappropriate' activity that it ultimately had no choice but to lock the car park gates.

The action comes five years after a bird watching hide in the reserve was locked up for the same reason.

The RSPB said it was sad to have to inconvenience genuine birdwatchers and ramblers by putting the car park out of bounds.

Highnam Woods is an ancient woodland with a 2km nature trail passing through it. Visitors in spring can hear 'a symphony of birdsong, especially from the nightingales in spring', according to the RSPB.