A PIGEON lover was today accused of putting a neighbour's life at risk because his birds are affecting her incurable lung condition.

Nicola Mackenzie, 10, of Stansfeld Street, Blackburn, needs steroids, inhalers and twice-daily physiotherapy for cystic fibrosis.

But her mother and full-time carer Janine Coupe, 28, said pigeon feathers and excrement are aggravating her daughter's poor health, which already means she has a reduced life expectancy of about 31.

During the last year the amount of medication Nicola needs has increased and she has needed more hospital visits.

But despite numerous requests, and the intervention of Blackburn with Darwen Council and landlords Ashiana Housing Association, the neighbour, Bernard Ibbotson, is still feeding the pigeons in his back garden.

He refused to comment yesterday when asked why he fed the birds.

Janine has sent doctors' letters to the housing association and the environmental health department from consultant paediatrician Dr JWT Benson saying Nicola has "a serious lung disease."

It states: "She needs good, clean housing which is free from damp, mould, dust and potential allergens such as feathers and pigeons."

The council has admitted that moving the family to another home maybe the only way to resolve the problem.

Nicola said: "I feel the way we are treated is wrong and the situation is ridiculous. These birds are horrible and the feathers aggravate Nicola's condition.

"She's needing more and more drugs and we have had to go to the hospital every week for the last two months. There is no cure for this condition, but I want her to stay as well as possible for as long as possible.

"Her condition can't be cured and I'm terrified about her getting worse. Nicola can't open her bedroom window or play in the garden, because the feathers and excrement are dangerous for her."

A spokesman for Ashiana Housing Association said: "We had a complaint from Janine Coupe about a year ago and an officer spoke to her neighbour. He refused to stop feeding the pigeons but agreed to reduce the frequency, though we don't know if he has done this.

"We try to be facilitators but it's very difficult to do anything under the tenancy agreement because it's arguable whether its a nuisance. It's not clear cut like many other nuisance problems. We contacted environmental health but have heard nothing more from them."

Sayyed Osman, deputy director of regeneration for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "We are aware of the problems that Miss Coupe is experiencing as a result of pigeons being fed by a resident of an adjacent property and are doing everything in our power to address them. Our environmental health team is actively involved and has visited the property on a number of occasions and we are continuing to liaise with all involved.

"We have raised the matter with the landlords of the property and have asked them to take appropriate action.

"In the light of her circumstances Miss Coupe has also been assessed by a housing needs officer and we are taking steps to support any re-housing issues that arise for her and her family. We hope there will be a satisfactory outcome in the near future."