Around 150 terrapin turtles which have been terrorising a neighbourhood in Hampstead Heath are to be rounded up and questioned.

Originally from America, the illegal immigrants have been feeding on worms, fish and even ducklings, said local reporter and turtle expert April O'Neill.

The invasion of wild terrapins in the UK has been linked to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze of the early 1990s. Many turtles came over to the UK seeking security work after their special skills were highlighted in the cartoon series and subsequent films.

But despite widespread perceptions amongst the public that turtles fight crime, the Hampstead cell are actually having a negative effect on the local crime rate. What's more, none of the terrapins in question have demonstrated even basic competence with weapons favoured by martial arts experts.

A private collector from Norfolk has offered to take the creatures after authorities intially planned to deport them to Italy.

Splinter was too weak to comment.