PRESTON councillors have backed calls to halt the shooting of the town's pigeons.

Members of the environment committee has decided to bring an end to the culling - the traditional way of controlling the pigeon population - in favour of a publicity campaign designed to stop people feeding the birds.

The decision, put forward by Councillor Andy Campbell (Labour, Deepdale), is being seen as a victory by animal rights activists, who stripped off in front of Preston Borough Council last week in a bid to get their point across.

Diane Sanderson, who led the protest, said: "We are delighted the councillors have been so sympathetic towards the pigeons.

"Their existing policy was cruel and did not solve the problem.

"The best way to control the pigeons is to control their food sources which come from the public." Council officers had been concerned at the growing number of pigeons in Preston, and the way in which they spread disease. According to officers, the birds' acidic droppings have also eroded the borough's historic buildings.

Coun Campbell said: "The main aim of my proposals was to approach the cause of the problem, the pigeon's food supply.

"We have agreed to stop the shooting, launch a publicity campaign and look at other ways of solving the problem, including the nest boxes."

Coun Albert Richardson, chair of the environment committee, said: "I called a stop to the shooting last week. The committee will now look at other ways of solving the problem. We all agree people must stop feeding the pigeons."

The decision will be discussed at a full council meeting next week.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.