Twenty-four baby pigeons were dumped in a skip and left to die under a mountain of rubbish.
Coo - Karen Fraser, 11, a sanctuary helper feeds the baby pigeons Picture: DAVE HENDERSON
Some are just weeks old and still have only started to sprout their first feathers.
But thanks to a kind-hearted stranger, the chicks were rescued and taken to a wildlife centre.
Veronica Mephem took the box of pigeons into her care at the Rescuers Wildlife Sanctuary in Watlington Road, Benfleet.
She said: "He didn't leave his name. He said he had heard of us and brought the pigeons straight here."
The man was working in London when he found the birds.
Mrs Mephem said: "He was putting some rubbish in the skip and saw this box and thought, hang on.
"He opened it up and there were all these pigeons."
Published Friday August 20, 2004
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