A plague of pigeons has hit Mistley.
The problem is so bad that when the Prince of Wales visited the village a few weeks ago, residents of Quayside Maltings invited him to bring a shooting party.
They also told parish councillors at their regular meeting yesterday they were unable to use their balconies and the birds were now a health hazard.
Residents said the debris and droppings were everywhere, reporting they had called in Tendring Council's environmental health officer.
Chairman Ian Rose agreed the problem was steadily getting worse and estimated there were probably more than 1,000 pigeons in the village.
"They live on the sandbanks and drink from the Swan Basin, where the acid from their droppings eats into the brickwork," said Mr Rose.
Mr Rose said the parish council did not have the resources to take action itself but would ask the district council to tackle the problem, pointing out the birds carried diseases.
Published Tuesday August 3, 2004
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