TOURISTS and shoppers in Worcester who feed pigeons are breaking the law.

It is classed as litter dropping and has contributed to the birds becoming a growing problem in the Faithful City.

Pigeons are now known to cause potentially fatal diseases as well as ruining monuments and buildings.

Roy Fidoe, head of environmental health at Worcester City Council, said it was illegal to feed the birds in the centre of the city and added there was a "huge problem".

"Pigeons cause contamination and erosion of buildings," he said. "A particular problem is people feeding the darn things.

"We want to discourage people from feeding pigeons. It's actually a littering offence to feed them."

In Malvern, environmental chiefs are considering controlling the birds' nesting and feeding patterns and removing their eggs rather than culling them.

The birds may also be responsible for bouts of pigeon flu, which has symptoms such as recurrent fever, headache and chills.

Bird control expert Dave Harry at Terminex, said urban birds were a serious menace.

"People underestimate the health hazards associated with pigeon excrement," he said.

"It's time people stopped feeding these disease-ridden pests and became aware of the problems they can cause."