'Oddie power' sends Britain wild

Delia Smith did it for omelette pans and now Bill Oddie - presenter of BBC2's surprise hit Britain Goes Wild - has done it for bird boxes.

In a natural history equivalent of the phenomenon dubbed "the Delia effect", the BBC's eccentric wildlife presenter has caused a nationwide stampede to garden centres, as viewers, prompted into action by his latest show, have been stripping the shelves of supplies of bird boxes and bird feeders.

"Our retail outlets have been exceptionally busy. People have come in for everything that's been mentioned on the show - sales of bird boxes, bird feeders and bird baths have all shot up and we have sold out of bee boxes," said an RSPB spokeswoman, Caroline Osbourne.

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