THE sight of RAF roundels struck fear into the heart of many an enemy pilot during the Second World War.

Now, in a new battle for the skies, pigeon lovers could resort to using the familiar circular emblem on their birds' wings in an attempt to find the perfect deterrent to predators.

Fixing the roundels - to imitate huge eyes - on to the racers is one option being examined by scientists, who have a £32,000 commission to find ways of repelling birds of prey.

Stitching glinting sequins on feathers and attaching bells to tails are other ideas experts are pinning their hopes on to reduce the number of birds falling victim to peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks.

The Confederation of Long Distance Racing Pigeon Unions of Great Britain and Ireland has turned to Dr Ian Hartley and Dr Andrew Dixon, of Lancaster University.

The pair will spend a year looking at various devices designed to make pigeons less appetising to birds of prey, the results of which will be eagerly anticipated by thousands of North-East fanciers.

In a round of test flights, the pigeons will be released with the different deterrents to see which gives them the best chance of survival.

Dr Hartley said: "It is the first time these devices have been scientifically tested in the field."

While the ideas might sound "wacky", there are similar devices already adopted by Mother Nature.

Dr Hartley added: "The roundels are like the circles on the wings of a peacock butterfly. They might look like two huge eyes staring back at the peregrine, which could frighten it off."

The bells and sequins might startle a peregrine long enough for the pigeon to escape.