AN ANIMAL lover has made a desperate plea to hospital bosses to stop breaking the necks of pigeons to keep them away.

Southend Hospital killed 790 pigeons in 2014 using the method in a bid to stop the birds making a mess and getting into the building, including its operating theatres.

The Echo revealed how the pigeons were being killed in July last year, but despite an outcry from animal campaign groups the hospital has confirmed it is continuing with the practice.

In response, Su Bennett, from Shoebury, a volunteer at Southend Animal Aid, started an online petition- which has already attracted nearly 200 signatures.

She said: “I was shocked to learn that last year, Southend Hospital killed a total of 790 pigeons by breaking their necks.

“Their dead bodies were then used as fodder for game birds. How many pigeons have been killed this way over the years?

“I contacted Jan China, the director of facilities and estates at the hospital, and explained that while I understood the inherent health risks pigeons pose to vulnerable patients, killing them is unnecessary.

“Other deterrents, such as spikes, can keep them away without posing a risk to the pigeon wildlife, which was certainly there before the hospital was built.”

Mrs China told the Echo that the methods used comply with both the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Defending the practice, she said: “The trust invests in deterrents to keep feral pigeons away from trust premises as far as reasonably practicable.

“These installations include netting to deter feral pigeons from entering particular areas and spiking on window ledges to prevent roosting as well as the periodic use of a bird scarer. Any birds that become trapped in netting are released.

“Where non-lethal methods cause additional problems or become ineffective, for example by simply moving birds to other areas, the feral pigeon population is controlled via cage trapping and for this service the trust employs a licensed pest control company. Despatch is undertaken by the pest control company by neck breaking.

“The carcasses are frozen off site by the pest control service and provided to local wildlife centres as food for birds of prey.

“The Trust only resorts to lethal control of feral pigeons when deterrents such as scaring and anti-roosting spikes are either ineffective or impracticable.”

Visit change.org/p/jan-china-southend-nhs-uk-stop-southend-hospital-s-pigeon-cull