A man is demanding action to control falconers who he accuses of having no respect for private property.

Martin Jeffery said the problem began about two years ago when Peter Bunting, chairman of Layer de la Haye Parish Council, began allowing falconers to hunt on his land.

Mr Jeffery, whose father Arthur Jeffery, keeps chickens at Fields Farm, Fields Farm Road, Layer de la Haye, said he saw a falcon kill one of the chickens about two years ago and added another four other chickens had disappeared.

Mr Jeffrey said that, earlier this month, he grabbed hold of a bird of prey which attacked two of his parents' chickens.

Farmer Mr Bunting said the falconers he allows to hunt on his land use trained birds.

"The falconers I give permission to hunt on my grounds, have their birds registered with Defra and are game birds bred in the country," said Mr Bunting.

No-one representing the falconers was available for comment

Published Wednesday, January 22, 2003

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