Pigeonshoot

Mar 7 2003 By Andrew Baldwin, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A CHURCH is tackling the problem of pigeons - with a gunman.

Nuisance birds will be targeted in the Summer Wine town of Holmfirth.

Fed-up worshippers say they are resorting to the drastic measure because of soaring numbers of pigeons and droppings.

The mess is a danger to health, say church officials.

A man with an air rifle will mount the parish church roof in the centre of the town to shoot the birds.

He will collect the dead birds and dispose of them.

Team rector the Rev Sean Robertshaw said today: "This is not an uncommon practice in areas where pigeon populations have become a health hazard to the public."

Police have been told about the plan, so there is no mistake about what the gunman is doing.

He will go on the church roof between 3am and 5am, armed with an air rifle with a silencer.

Mr Robertshaw said the pigeons would be "humanely shot".