As if saving cash and helping the environment aren’t justification enough to pick up a green car, now you can add a new reason to the list - namely, avoiding bird muck.

Actually the green cars in question aren’t hybrids or electrics, but rather those that are the colour green. According to a survey by Zurich car insurance, only 86 per cent of green car drivers have been hit by bird droppings in the past year. This compares to 92 per cent of silver car drivers. Indeed green cars are even hit less frequently with just over a third of green car drivers hit once a fortnight or more (36 per cent) compared to nearly one in two silver car drivers (49 per cent).

OK so this is clearly one of those posts that belong in the “And finally…” section of a News at Ten broadcast, but there is a serious message too.

Droppings are more than just unsightly and unsanitary, because two fifths of motorists that have been hit have reported permanent damage. One in ten even suffers long lasting dull spots on their paintwork, while one in 12 has even reported… wait for it… acidic bird muck eating away at their paintwork.

Top tips for dealing with bird dirt are: to spray and not wipe because birds eat seeds which could scratch your paintwork; keep carbonated water in the car to power wash the muck off as soon as possible; and polish and wax to form an invisible layer of protection.

Of course here at thegreencarwebsite.co.uk we just like to think the birds are trying to tell us something - drive green!