Specialist cleaners swung into Oswestry this week to help one of the town’s churches get rid of its pigeon problem.

The pest control workers abseiled down the church spire of Christ Church to clean the pigeon droppings from the louvre windows of the spire and put in place netting to keep the birds out in future. And the workers say that they have been surprised at the number of pigeons which live in the market town.

The pigeons have been nesting inside the spire for many years and church officials called in the experts after finding droppings almost two feet deep on the floor of the inside of the spire.

The pigeon muck had begun to drop from above down onto the floor of the entrance to the church. And there were worries that it was going to land on churchgoers.

Sean Whelan, from Whelan Pest Control, which is carrying out the work, said that all his employees had to wear specialist clothing as well as breathing apparatus to treat and remove the droppings.

Ingested

“We have removed about two tonnes of droppings which will have to go to a licensed landfill site,” Mr Whelan said.

“It wasn’t a health hazard to members of the church where it was but it can cause lung problems if it is ingested.

“We are now putting up netting that should keep the birds away in future.”

He added: “We often work on old buildings and so have developed methods of keeping the pigeons away that don’t detract from the buildings.”

He said he was surprised at the extent of the pigeon problem in Oswestry.

“I have only been here a day and, looking round, Oswestry definitely has a big pigeon problem,” he said.

He added: “There are several buildings that are affected.”

Christ Church parishioners have been holding services in their coffee lounge but it is hoped that the cleaning will be finished and the main church will be reopened in time for Sunday’s Whitsun services.

Church official Maureen Pennington said they had been shocked at the depth of the droppings in the spire and pleased that the work was now under way.

“It has been fascinating seeing the workers abseiling with such ease around the church spire,” the official said.

By Sue Austin