AN OXFORD housebuilder has pledged to build houses in the city with new 'swift friendly' bricks.

The idea is the bricks will be better for the birds ­— which typically use rooftops to build their nests.

During Swift Awareness Week, which runs until June 30th, bosses at the housebuilding company David Wilson have made a pact to only use bricks which encourage the birds to nest and settle. The initiative will be run in nine other cities, where the bird is in decline.