A PIGEON cull could be back on the cards now that funding for a more humane scheme has been sidelined.

Malvern Hills District Council has ranked investment of £10,000 for a dovecote to control pigeon numbers as a low priority.

Frank Seabright, head of environmental health, said the dovecote project would be unlikely to go ahead this year.

"What happens to the pigeons is something that will have to be considered," he said. "All options will have to be considered. A cull would be on the list of options."

The council has been considering ways of controlling the town's pigeon population for the last two years.

It abandoned plans to cull the birds after public protest, including a demonstration outside the Council House.

Instead it opted to follow the advice of the Pigeon Control Advisory Service and build a nest-box to control numbers by regularly removing eggs.

Now the council has to go back to the drawing board.

Pest control charges have been increased by MHDC.

The council needs to increase income from pest control by £10,000 a year.

So it has increased its treatment for wasps and bees by £1 to £31 and other pest treatments, which were previously free, are now £20.

People on benefit are exempt from payment.