PIGEON fanciers in Yarm are causing a flutter among councillors who might have to consider paying out money.

Members of the town pigeon club want to create storage space on council-owned allotment land.

Opinion is divided and a meeting is being called to thrash out the situation.

At last week's town council meeting, the chairman, Coun Gwen Porter, said the club wanted secure accommodation with electricity on the Worsall Road allotment site.

"I can't just agree to put a building on tenanted allotments," she said. "If the building was ever no longer necessary we would be left with it."

At present, some tenants are allowed to keep pigeons at Worsall Road, but not at the council's other allotment area at the Brickyard.

At this site, fanciers are able to store the large boxes used for conveying birds to competitions.

But the boxes are large and are causing problems for the allotment shop, so the club has asked for space at Worsall Road.

Coun Porter said a meeting was needed between the allotments association, the club and councillors to see what could be done.

"It is all going to cost and be a question as to the extent Yarm Town Council should be responsible," she said.

Coun David Henderson said: "We have no obligation to the pigeon club."

Coun Bob Stephenson said: "But they are still ratepayers and it is good relations to meet them. We can't just condemn the idea without even considering it."

Coun Philip Addison said: "Tell them to fly the coop.