Lives are being put at risk in a village because of a plague of pigeons, a woman has claimed.

Angela Kilmartin, a resident at Quayside Maltings in High Street, Mistley, has always maintained the pigeons pose a hygiene concern but now says the risk is becoming greater.

In the latest incident, a tile fell from the ceiling of one of her neighbour's flats after two pigeons were spotted on the roof.

The tile narrowly missed two children inside, but Mrs Kilmartin, a health writer, believed the accident could have been much worse.

She said: "Had they not moved a few moments before, it could have killed someone.

"We were minutes from a death but no-one is taking any action except me."

Mrs Kilmartin added she had the support of fellow residents and urged that the pigeons be culled as soon as possible.

In a bid to rid the village of the pigeons, she has contacted environmental officers at Tendring Council and a pest control team.

A spokesman for Tendring Council confirmed environmental officers were inspecting the site to establish the next course of action.

Published Wednesday August 25, 2004

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