THE Queen's official residence in Scotland is the most pest-infested of all the nation's historic properties.
Historic Scotland revealed yesterday the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh has made 16 pest-related call-outs since 2010. It is regularly affected by mice, ants and wasps, which cost a relatively modest £480 to deal with.
Edinburgh Castle had the second largest number of call-outs with 11 and spent £720 over the three-year period to deal with their unwanted intruders including mice, wasps and a squirrel.
Stirling Castle spent the most on eradicating pests - as it was hit with a bill of more than £1800 to control pigeons and wasps.
Craigmillar Castle was third in both number of call-outs, with 10, and the amount spent, at £1104. Dumbarton Castle was fourth with £942 spent, on what Historic Scotland swatted away as a "casual intruder" problem.
More than £51,000 has been spent on the 345 protected sites in the last three years on dealing with pest problems.
A spokesman for Historic Scotland said it has an effective programme of control in place across the historic sites.
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