Sir, – With reference to Mr Strudwick's letter 'Pigeon problems' in the Haslemere Herald of November 19.

I live in an apartment block and recently we have had to spend in excess of £1,500 to have a small area of our roof 'pigeon-proofed' (with spikes) to rid ourselves of these pests (some 60 plus). I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to experience an unbroken night's sleep, without being kept awake by the incessant cacophony of their cooing, rustling, scraping, and scratching!            

In addition to this, over the past six months we have had to pay three times to have the gutters and down-pipe cleaned and unblocked from a mass of feathers and faeces. As you can imagine, the smell was disgusting.

Our problem started when an open skylight in a nearby derelict building was closed off, after it was discovered to be occupied by pigeons. It was found to contain a large quantity of droppings, feathers, dead birds and chicks. As a result they had to find a new roosting place – they chose us!

My experience led me to much research, which has greatly increased my knowledge of these birds, and while during my life I have innocently enjoyed feeding pigeons, I will never do so again. They are indeed a serious health hazard!

At a simple level their droppings on pavements (each pigeon produces 20gm a day) are slimy and can cause people to slip over when walking, In addition, they host a whole range of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other organisms that can also infect man. Dust from feathers and droppings can cause allergic reaction in susceptible people. These are just some of the many reasons why pigeons are known as 'the rats of the sky' and I for one was pleased to read that mayor Melanie Odell had pleaded with the residents of  Haslemere  to 'Not feed the pesky pigeons'!

Cyndy Lancaster, Penfold Manor, Haslemere