A ROSS-on-Wye man has offered £2,500 of his own money to the town council to solve the pigeon problem in Wilton Road.

Geof Lodge spoke at Ross Town Council's meeting on Monday night with regards to the Wilton Cliff opposite the Man Of Ross pub.

Pigeons gather and roost at the wall which results in a large amount of pigeon faeces on the pavement.

Mr Lodge said: "This area has been horribly neglected in the last few years. The pigeon population is already 500 or more. It will probably be double or triple next year."

He offered to pay £2,500 towards solving the pigeon problem.

Chairman of the town council and Mayor Harry Bramer said they had received a statement from Herefordshire Council who said a funding scheme would need to be found.

The statement said that feeding of pigeons would need to be addressed as would any issues with bins. The county council also said they did not think culling would solve the problem as the population would quickly recover.

Christopher Kirkham-Sandy from The Old Court House in High Street said: "Ross streets are very untidy - cigarette butts, faeces from the pigeons etc."

He said the birds need to be killed. He spoke to a falconry company who said trapping and shooting the pigeons would solve the problem.

They charge £500 per visit and traps cost £100 each.

Mr Kirkham-Sandy said: "I am finding people who come and stay with me and unload their cars are disgusted. It is a serious problem."

The meeting heard that the holes in the wall would need to be covered with chicken wire to stop the pigeons roosting and breeding.

Councillor Chris Bartrum said he receives a lot of complaints about pigeons in the town. He said: "It is obviously a concern to people in Wye Street and the surrounding streets."

Councillor Richard Mayo said culling seems to be the best option to start with and dealing with the nesting and roosting points.

He proposed that the council accept Mr Lodge's "generous offer" and to then set up a budget heading under the amenities committee of pigeon control for the next financial year of £2,000, which would be used to keep on top of the problem.

This was supported fully by the town council.