Bird droppings get town in a flap

There are concerns the droppings could be a health hazard

Trees which attract thousands of migrating starlings face being cut back after complaints over the level of bird droppings.

There are concerns the trees, which overhang High Street in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, could be a health hazard.

Retired banker Mike Demack, who has some of the fir trees in his garden, has been asked by the local council to consider lopping them.

He said the starlings were an "amazing sight," but agreed they caused a mess.

For the past two years, the birds have flocked to Rhuddlan on their migration through Europe, and returned to the area about three weeks ago.

Inevitably, however, the droppings have also returned, covering a public telephone box and nearby bench.

Lots of people love watching the birds, they're incredible, and the trees are a well-known landmark in Rhuddlan Jean Demack

Some residents have complained and the matter was discussed at a meeting of Rhuddlan Town Council, where concerns were raised over the possible danger to pedestrians because of the "slippery surface of the pavement".

In a letter to Mr Demack, town clerk Terry Pemberton wrote: "I have arranged for the highway authority to power clean the pavement as often as possible but as you are aware the nuisance will continue as long as the starlings roost in the trees.

"The council has instructed me to seek your co-operation and to request that you consider lopping the height of the trees concerned which will hopefully prevent the starlings from roosting in the trees."

The trees are believed to be between 50 and 100 years old, and are thought to have once been part of the vicarage next door to Mr Demack's home.

Mr Demack and his wife Jean admited the birds caused a "mess", but the problem exists for only a few months of the year.

The trees are a "well-known landmark" in Rhuddlan

Their own house and garden is covered in droppings, but the couple say they would rather the birds continued to visit.

Mr Demack said: "The starlings are an amazing spectacle, they come out at dusk.

"They arrived this year on 8 January, and they normally stay for four or five weeks. There does seem to be more this year than usual - there must be thousands."

He added: "I went out on the pavement on the other side of the garden wall myself and power-washed the pavement on Sunday, but there is still a mess there.

"The town council has asked us to consider cutting back the branches - which to be honest we were already thinking about.

"But it would be wrong to do it while the starlings are still here."

Mrs Demack said they had received messages from several people asking them not to cut the branches back.

She said: "Lots of people love watching the birds, they're incredible, and the trees are a well-known landmark in Rhuddlan."

Denbighshire Council said they were not aware of any complaints since last May, but the trees had a "certain amount of protection" because they were in a conservation area.