A PIGEON blighted rural market town is calling for swift action to help tackle the rising number of the local birds which are causing a mess.

Concern has been voiced on safety and visual issues regarding the impact of the pigeon problem on Thirsk.

Some areas of the town centre have large amounts of pigeon excrement on the pavement which can be slippery after rain.

Thirsk Town Council wants action to tackle the problem and to reduce the amount of pigeons and it has suggested a cull before.

The members suggested anti-pigeon nets could be strung up on certain buildings and the matter will be discussed further.

Councillor Janet Watson, mayor of Thirsk, said: "It’s been on-going for a long time and we’re going to take advice on it.

"We are asking that people don’t feed the pigeons as it doesn’t help and they can find food of their own anyway.

"If we put nets up to stop them roosting on buildings they just move to another building and it’s also an environmental problem.

"We have lived with it and it’s not got any better and we need to address it."

Signs have been erected asking people not to feed the pigeons as it would encourage them to stay.

A Hambleton District Council spokesman said: "We are working with the town council to look into the problem with pigeons.

"Netting the buildings is not the solution as it simply moves the problem from one building to another.

"The street scene team is continuing to sweep the area as much as possible and we are urging people not to feed the pigeons."

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states pigeons can only be killed with a Government licence and under certain circumstances.

A RSPCA spokesman said: "A build-up of bird numbers in urban environments is normally a result of the presence of a readily accessible food supply and the availability of attractive habitats.

"Effective long-term management is normally dependent on the ability to eliminate or reduce these attractants.

"The humane killing of an animal should only be contemplated where there is serious damage and all alternative control methods have been ineffective or impractical."