60 racing pigeons die in loft arson

7:00pm Monday 6th November 2006

ARSONISTS killed 60 racing pigeons by torching an allotment.

And Geoffrey Williams said he may now give up on his lifelong love of the sport after the attack on his allotment in Quarry Street, Padiham, at 3am yesterday.

The blaze, which destroyed two of his cabins, killing the pigeons and six turkeys, was the third time his allotment had been set alight in four years.

Mr Williams, 68, of Partridge Hill, Padiham, had only replaced the sheds 18 months ago after the last incident, but this is the first time that he has lost so many birds.

He said he did not know whether he had the heart to continue.

Fighting back tears, the grandad-of-two said: "I've been racing pigeons for 45 years, and I've always loved it, but this is making me feel like throwing in the towel.

"I don't know if I can face replacing them again.

"It's just beyond a joke now.

"It's always the same cabins that they go for, so I'm sure it's the same youths every time.

"They hang around the area at night."

The sick stunt has cost him thousands of pounds, with the collective value of the birds and cabins, and the feed and tools he also kept inside.

Mr Williams, a retired slaughterhouse worker, said: "Allotments cannot be insured because there's no security - I used to have a guard dog which worked very well but when new houses were built behind, residents complained about the barking.

"In the end, the council made me get rid of him, and then the trouble started. So what can I do?"

His daughter Julie Williams is upset and angry at the way her dad has been treated.

Julie, who manages Hilton Residential Home, in Quarry Street, said: "I want to know what the council suggest for allotment-keepers to do to protect their property from vandalism.

"The rents are high but they give them absolutely nothing.

"They pay for everything themselves and are uninsured.

"If this was a dog kennel they'd be up in arms, but people think that can just ignore pigeons.

"Pigeon racing is my dad's life.

"He shouldn't be forced to stop like this. It's wrong."

A spokesman for the fire service said they were investigating the incident with police.