'Grotty' pigeon poo railway bridge to be cleaned

The problem of pigeon poo under a railway bridge in Shropshire is due to be tackled next week.

Shropshire Council said it had received numerous complaints about bird muck on bridge walls, paving and road surfaces at the bridge over Chester Street and Castle Foregate.

Bosses said they had to seek permission to carry out the work as the bridge was the responsibility of Network Rail.

Devereux Biddlecomb, a visitor to the town, told the BBC the "grotty state" of the pavements was spoiling the town's beauty.

Deputy leader of Shropshire Council Alex Wagner says the issue is a hot topic in his email inbox

Deputy council leader Alex Wagner said the issue was the number one problem raised with him by email.

Network Rail installed netting in 2021 to "pigeon proof" the bridge but it only solved the issue for a short while, Wagner said.

He added the bridges and paths underneath were a key pedestrian route for thousands of people.

A spokesperson for the authority it would install wire mesh and spikes to prevent the birds nesting and roosting under the bridge and would also remove pigeon carcasses and clean the walls.

The cleaning and spike installation will be carried out from Monday and should be finished by 16 August. The mesh will be installed at a later date.