A little birdie told me that there are giant worms swirming their way through Connecticut soil in the US and they are wreaking absolute havoc. The so-called “jumping worms” can destabilise the soil and make it harder for some plants to grow, scientists are saying.

Technically they can’t jump but they have strong, rigid bodies that can whip violently if they are disturbed. They are also fairly handy at climbing, and have been found in the upper stories of buildings.

I’m told they were originally brought into the US from Japan to feed Platypuses in the Bronx Zoo.