A WINGED offensive to scare starlings out of two trees in Accrington town centre has got lift-off.

Hyndburn councillors last night approved a combination of measures to oust the birds expected to begin roosting in two horse chestnut trees in front of the market hall later this month.

The public health campaign will involve a falconer flying an owl, the launching of "air bomb" fireworks from the roof of the market hall and the broadcasting of starling distress calls. It is hoped that, tried in combination, the measures will clear the birds within two to three weeks of their arrival. Bird-scaring cartridges, which create a loud bang, will be used about an hour before dusk.

Leaflets will be distributed to local businesses likely to be open alerting them to the pyrotechnics.

In previous years there have been serious problems with unhygienic and slippery bird droppings contaminating the pavement and benches.

Stalls are also likely to be sited in front of the market from time to time as a result of the town centre redevelopment, the development services committee was told.

Head of planning Phil Barwood stressed that the measures were designed to scare the starlings and change their roosting habits, not to cause them any harm.

They will be carried out in consultation with the RSPB and police.

Councillor Len Dickinson, who chairs the environmental services committee, said: "It would be detrimental to the health of market stall holders and shoppers if they were bombarded with whatever starlings do.

"They make a mess of the street and it prevents people from sitting on the benches."

Councillors agreed that all possible measures should be tried before the "drastic" step of felling the trees is even considered.

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