BOUNTY hunters were once paid generously to slaughter birds now in danger of extinction, according to historic records discovered in a Wiltshire church.

A fascinating book of churchwardens' accounts dating from 1770 to 1858 was discovered by church wardens inside an old chest in Stanton Fitzwarren church, near Swindon.

The church has now passed this important chronicle of parish life to the Wiltshire and Swindon Record office in Trowbridge, where it will be made available to the public.

As well as recording details of general church expenses, such as repairs to the roof, the book reveals some macabre secrets from the Georgian and early Victorian periods.

Two hundred years ago the slaughter of birds was accepted as an effective way of keeping numbers down.

Parishes paid generous bounties to people who killed them.

The going rate was normally about two pence per dozen birds, although the exact amount varied from area to area.

In 1772, the churchwardens in Stanton Fitzwarren recorded that they had paid out two shillings, four-and-a-half pence for the destruction of sparrows.

In 1802, the parish paid four shillings and 11 pence for 345 sparrows killed. A total of 430 sparrows were killed in 1835.

Other birds considered pests included birds of prey, ospreys, kingfishers, ravens and woodpeckers. Rewards were also offered for the killing of animals such as foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and moles.