STEPS have been taken to stop pigeons tarnishing one of the region's landmarks.

A £40,000 European grant covered the cost of the restoration of Grey Friars Tower, in Richmond's Friary Gardens, in North Yorkshire, in 2001.

Paving has also been laid around the base of the scheduled ancient monument, which overlooks the town's Queen Street.

However, bird droppings were having a detrimental effect on the stonework and paths below, and Richmondshire District Council stepped in to prevent the problem getting worse.

Spikes have been installed on ledges around the tower which, until now, have been used as roosting sites by the town's pigeons.

Council spokesman Gary Hudson said: "As well as being unsightly, bird droppings can erode stonework, causing lasting damage to buildings.

"The tower was a popular roost and nesting site for large numbers of pigeons, so the build-up of waste on the building and paths below was considerable."

A silica gel has been used to attach the spikes to prevent any lasting damage to the tower.

The work on the Grade I-listed building was carried out in time to deter the birds before they started to build this year's nests.

The restoration project has been completed in consultation with English Heritage and the Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport.