PROTESTERS flocked to the city to protest the ‘bird killing’ netting above the rear entrance to M&S in New Street.

Debbie Fowler, who attended the protest, said: “The demo and petition outside Marks and Spencer in Worcester was to oppose the netting over the loading bay that is regularly trapping and killing wild birds.

“The netting doesn’t stop birds entering the bay, nor does it stop their droppings, the only purpose it serves is to trap birds. The business manager is aware of the public concern.”

Max Burgess from Malvern was also at the protest last week. He said: “On Saturday I saw the body of a baby pigeon caught in the netting. It had been there for sometime, one can only imagine how it suffered before it died. I wrote to the local M&S store and the head office when the seagull died telling them it was too dangerous for baby birds.

“When they come out of the nests if they fall they land in the netting and will never get out as the more they struggle, the more entangled they become. M&S need to remove it and stop anymore baby birds having the same terrible fate.”

Worcester News:

SAD: Gary the Gull trapped in the netting above the Click and Collect bay

Last year we reported on the dramatic rescue of the affectionately named Gary the gull. A seagull who was trapped in the netting outside M&S. A member of the public noticed him ‘thrashing around’ trapped in the net.

Glenn Baird arrived quickly from the RSPCA to rescue the gull. When he was rescued he was found to have broken one wing and one leg.

The decision was taken by Mr Baird to euthanise ‘Gary’ off site.

Mr Baird, said at the time: “We must remember with a lot of our wildlife, it’s us in their environment and not them in ours.

“The more we build on their feeding areas the more we drive inwards to the city to find shelter and food.”

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: “Each year around 2,000 reports are made to the RSPCA about wild birds trapped in or behind netting, many incidents involving bird-deterrent netting.

“Problems arise when netting is put up incorrectly or becomes damaged, leaving gaps where birds can enter and become trapped.”

A spokeswoman for M&S said: “Like most retailers we very occasionally use netting, with the guidance of the local council and BID, to help maintain the environment where our customers park and pick up their shopping.”