CHIEF officers from two authorities will thrash out a way of resolving a rumbling war over Trowbridge's expanding pigeon population.

Andrew Pate, West Wiltshire District Council's chief executive, and Trowbridge Town Council clerk Doug Ross will try to cool the growing tension between the two authorities over the bird debate.

Anger erupted in a meeting when district council lawyers outlined their reluctance to prosecute feeders and asked town council officials to prove the pigeon problem even existed.

Former Trowbridge mayor Jeff Osborn vowed to hound the authority to take action and take the matter seriously instead of dismissing it out of hand.

He said businesses were losing money as a result of the bird problem, with ex-chamber of commerce president Colin Scragg backing calls for steps to stamp out the problem.

"We are talking real businesses' concerns here and I would like to think the district council takes such matters seriously and does not blithely dismiss them," Cllr Osborn said.

Mr Scragg outlined a host of problems facing firms and employees in the town, but the comments came too late to be raised at last week's meeting. Problems with persistent feeders have led to a boom in the rat population with several rodents spotted around the town centre.

The district council has stepped up litter patrols on town centre streets but to little effect.

In a report drawn up by its own officers, it stresses only disproportionate resources would work if persistent feeders continue to operate.

Supermarkets have been urged not to supply the elderly women accused of feeding the birds with excessive amounts of bread or seed.

A cull of the birds has been put on the backburner since scores of animal rights campaigners flocked to the town to protest against what they labelled as "inhumane" and "brutal" methods.

Trowbridge Town Council's town development committee still has the power to sanction a cull, if it has enough funds in the budget.

Egg collection is viewed as one of the best options open to the authority, as the method is deemed effective and less likely to cause a public outcry.