A PENSIONER who has a buzzard nesting in her garden has hit out at a man who has called for the birds to be culled.

Eighty-four-year old Mildred Ballard, of Pershore Road, Earl's Croome, contacted the Evening News after reading an article about the winged predators.

Five attacks by buzzards have been reported in the past month and posters have been put up warning people travelling from Kempsey to Kinnersley, through Kerswell Green, that they do so at their own risk.

In the latest attack, Group Capt Richard Bridges, who lives near Kempsey, needed medical treatment after the birds swooped on him as he was walking up Kinnersley Rise, leaving three scars on his head.

He has now called for birds to be culled before someone is seriously injured.

But Mrs Ballard, who has a buzzard nesting in a fir tree in her garden, has hit out at his remarks, saying the birds were merely letting people know they had a nest nearby.

"If this man doesn't like it he should walk somewhere else," she said.

"If they swoop down they won't hurt you - they are just doing it to let you know that they have a nest in one of the trees.

"He doesn't know what he is talking about. They are beautiful birds and they should not get shot down."

RSPB spokesman Grahame Madge said the society did not endorse culling of any birds of prey and suggested the birds attacking people may have escaped from a falconry centre.

"There is some dispute whether these birds attacking people are really wild birds or not because most birds of prey fly a mile when people get near," he said.

However, Capt Bridges has defended his comments.

"It's coming up to the school holidays and there are a lot of footpaths there and someone could very well get hurt," he said.