BBC News, Nottingham
PA MediaGames Workshop, the fantasy war miniatures firm, is facing a major new real world challenge – a bat.
While its successful Warhammer series features clawed monsters and armoured soldiers, its plans are being held up by a 4cm (1.6in) pipistrelle bat.
The flying animal has been found on the site of a planned car park near its Nottingham headquarters.
The company said it was “carefully looking after” the guest but did not reveal how long it was expected to stay.
The pipistrelle is the UK’s smallest and most common bat, weighing about 5g (0.17oz) but capable of eating about 3,000 insects a night.
It is protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Games Workshop’s annual report revealed profits in the year to 1 June rose 29% to £263m.
It also admitted to two ongoing issues, firstly the imposition of tariffs on imports to the US and “the cute looking pipistrelle bat that is delaying our work on our new temporary car park”.
“We are carefully looking after the bat and we hope the uncertainty around tariffs is resolved soon,” it said.
ReutersThe company said it had spent £2.1m on land at Willow Road to be used as a short-term car park but with an option to develop it for production later.
Games Workshop has been approached for comment on the extent of the delay and any cost implications.