Squirrels 'run away and won't come back' when they smell kitchen scrap they hate

While squirrels may be charming to observe, they can wreak havoc on , causing significant damage and terrorising feeders. As with most wild animals, if there's a food source available, they're likely to stick around. The straightforward solution would be to eliminate all nuts, , vegetables, fungi and insects - but this isn't exactly feasible in a domestic garden setting.

Squirrels can also spell disaster for property owners, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage by gnawing through wires and woodwork or ripping into insulation and plasterboard. To help keep these critters at bay, Jordan Foster, a pest control expert at Fantastic Pest Control, has shared his top tips.

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Jordan revealed that squirrels are quite particular about smells and "simply cannot tolerate some odours" - grounds being one of them. He advised: "Spread coffee grounds in your borders as squirrels hate the smell of them and will run away and won't come back."

Consider scattering used coffee grounds around the perimeter of your garden to protect your crops and flowers.

Add a few drops of water to the ground to secure the grinds in place and amplify the scent.

Gardeners should test a hidden spot in their garden first to ensure it won't harm their plants. Coffee grounds might also serve to deter other pests, such as cats and rats, reports .

The green-fingered experts at Love The Garden have a spicy tip for keeping pesky squirrels at bay – chilli flakes.

They advise: "Squirrels can't stand the hot, spicy flavours of chilli and so a liberal scattering of these could help deter them from the garden."

For those looking for an alternative method, the experts also suggest peppering your garden with pots of mint. It turns out that "squirrels find peppermint too strong for their sensitive noses".

However, it's important to remember that before you start sprinkling any kind of pest-repellent around your garden, you should always make sure you're in the clear with local regulations.