EARLIER this month Your View carried two letters regarding 'don't feed the pigeons'.

I would like to reassure your readers that racing pigeons, as opposed to feral pigeons, carry very little risk on contracting or passing on avian influenza.

Considerable veterinary research has concluded that racing pigeons have a high resistance to AI and it is on this basis that DEFRA has authorised racing and showing of racing pigeons. Anyone with a pigeon fancier as a neighbour need have little concern about any health fears

Peter Bryant

General manager

The Royal Pigeon Racing Association

The Reddings

nr Cheltenham