BIRDS of prey in East Lancashire have been prevented from breeding successfully because of thefts from nests.

Figures released by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds showed the number of reported egg thefts in the North West doubled between 1996 and 1997.

There were also 92 poisoning incidents, half of them involving birds of prey, and a significant increase in the number of RSPB prosecutions.

RSPB officials said North Lancashire was a major problem area, but reported that the east of the county had also seen problems.

Spokesman Andre Farrar said: "Peregrine falcons and merlins in Pennine areas have failed to breed. We believe the main reason for this has been human interference, mainly the theft of eggs."

But there has been at least one success story in East Lancashire with numbers of rare Hen Harriers in the Bowland area being stabilised thanks to RSPB protection.

Out of 11 successful Hen Harrier nests in Britain during 1997, six were in the Forest of Bowland, making the area a stronghold for the species.

The society has been working in unison with North West Water Water, which owns a large tract of land in Bowland, to protect the birds.

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