A group of retired pigeon fanciers whose loft stands on land intended for property development have enlisted the support of English Heritage.

Some of the Sunderland men have kept pigeons in the loft for up to 60 years. They say their traditional lifestyle is under threat and have promised to fight eviction until the end.

The pigeon fanciers' MP is backing their fight

One local, Jack Surtees, told the BBC: "I'm prepared to ride over the bull-dozers. They'll have to kill us, it's as simple as that."

Mr Surtees and the other pigeon racers have only two weeks left until eviction deadline from the allotments where their loft sits.

But help may have arrived from a group not ordinarily interested in huts made from wood and corrugated iron.

The pensioners' MP, Frazer Kemp, wrote to English Heritage asking them to make the pigeon loft a listed building, which would protect it from any development proposals.

More than 500 pigeons are kept in the loft

Since then, English Heritage officials have travelled from London to inspect the site.

Mr Kemp said: "These [allotments] may not be stately homes or castles but in terms of the culture in the north-east they're very much an important part of that and I want to see that retained for future generations.

"There are eviction notices on these allotments and we're doing everything we can to ensure those eviction notices are not carried through and that the men have the right to enjoy the pigeons and enjoy the allotments as they want to."

In addition, a petition has sprung up backing the pigeon fanciers and the local council is holding emergency talks on the subject.

One of the oldest of the men who keeps pigeons at the endangered loft explained his anguish at the threat of being forced to go.

John Reid: not looking for trouble

John Reid, an ex-miner, said the pigeons are as important to him as children and he could not live without them.

The new land owners, Worktalent, who bought the land from the North Eastern Co-op, refused to comment to the BBC.

Mr Reid said: "In all the time I've been here, I've never had any trouble with the police, the neighbours, anybody."

But if everything else fails, he and the other pigeon fanciers are promising they will break the habit of their long lifetimes.

BBC viewers in the north-east of England and Cumbria can see the full story of the property developers versus the pigeons in Close Up North on BBC-2 at 7.30pm on Thursday.
 

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