RICHMOND'S pigeon fanciers have been smoothing ruffled feathers after a move from their home of the past 50 years.

Members of the town's homing pigeon society have kept equipment in an outbuilding in the yard of the Town Hall pub for decades.

However, the arrival of a new landlady last week heralded a new era and the club was told their premises would be needed for storage.

"There was no ultimatum but I asked if they could find a new base as soon as they could,'' said licensee, Tenille Wren. "The accommodation at the pub isn't big enough for my own furniture and I had to have somewhere else to put it."

The hunt for a new roost began immediately and a publican at Barton was quick to offer the club an alternative.

However, question marks over planning consent seemed likely to delay relocation and in the end, members accepted another offer from the owner of The Crown, in Brompton-on-Swale.

"We have had to spend about £200 of club's money on some wood for the floor, but otherwise it's ideal and we are extremely grateful," said spokesman Ged Barker.

"We were sorry to leave the Town Hall behind after so long, but at least we can look to the future in a new home."