A PIGEON fancier has warned that Marlborough's pigeon population could explode in number unless the town council acts quickly.

Its been estimated by some pigeon fanciers who hate the wild birds because they lure their own young birds to freedom that there as many as 500 wild pigeons in the town centre.

But one fancier warned: "There may be as many as 500 now but in a year's time that will be 1,000."

Last week town councillors appealed to Gazette readers to air their views on ways to control the pigeon population.

The problem is made worse because the birds are no longer deterred by the traditional anti-pigeon devices of wire strips fastened to their roosting ledges on town centre buildings, including the town hall.

Councillors were told the pigeons simply settled down on the spikes knowing they can't fall off their perches during the night.

One remedy being considered is the provision of a dovecote where controlled feeding could take place.

Town clerk Graham Gittins said a pigeon cote would cost about £10,000 but trials in Chester showed a combination of providing cotes for the birds to nest in together with designated feeding areas reduced the number of pigeons in the city centre.

Town councillors will be discussing the problem again at their next full council meeting on January 31.