A CAMPAIGN to reduce the number of pigeons plaguing a West Craven town is to be launched.

Pendle Council’s West Craven Committee will launch a public awareness scheme in Barnoldswick.

Giving the birds a contraceptive pill had been suggested as a humane approach but the proposal was dropped after the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said there was no such product authorised in the UK.

Coun David Whipp said: “Sadly, there’s no way DEFRA will licence this product in Barnoldswick or Earby, so we need to pursue a campaign to try not to overfeed them, which promotes more breeding.”