A CONTROVERSIAL cull of pigeons in Malvern has been abandoned in favour of a more novel method of control.

Malvern Hills District Council is hoping that a £3,000 dovecote and designated feeding area will be the answer to all its pigeon problems.

The dovecote method is based on evidence that shows providing the birds with a place to nest, breed and feed contains the problem.

Frank Seabright, head of environmental health services, said limiting the pigeons' feed was the main deterrent to numbers.

"If there's an unlimited amount of food available to the pigeons then they will just breed and breed," he said.

"We will also control their breeding by removing the eggs. So we're not actually killing any pigeons, which offends parts of the population, but we are preventing numbers growing.

"At the moment, people are feeding pigeons around the area and we're trying to discourage this by designating a feeding area in the town.

"We will keep this area cleaned up to prevent the rodent problem, which we do get in areas where food is left."

The size and position of the dovecote has not yet been decided, but Mr Seabright said Priory Park is a likely option.

The scheme is likely to cost £2,500 per annum for cleaning and egg removal costs and Mr Seabright said strong enforcement action will be taken against people not using the designated feeding areas.

Pauline Burgess, a supporter of the Friends of Feral Pigeons group, who protested against the cull proposal, said she would be happy to help with the egg collecting.

"We asked them not to do the cull so now it's up to us to work with them on this scheme," she said.

"Some people don't like the idea of taking their eggs but surely it's better than wringing their necks?"