Builders David Drummond and Sam Brown are used to getting their hands dirty - but nothing prepared them for the challenge presented by Naburn church bell tower. Wearing protective suits, masks, gloves and goggles, the two workers have spent the last week clearing out no less than 35 tons of pigeon droppings from the tower.

Pigeon mission: Builder David Drummond got some hands-on experience when he helped clear an eight-foot high pile of pigeon droppings from St Matthew's Church, Naburn.

Work to restore St Matthew's Church in Naburn to its former glory is being carried out after the parochial church council won £165,000 of lottery cash two years ago. But after stonework, repairing roofs and new electrical work the builders came across the biggest job of all.

Boss Charles Anelay, of building firm William Anelay, said: "As part of the work we had to clear out the bell tower and spire. The workers had to break through a ceiling and what was above that ceiling was eight foot of guano. It was appalling.

"What was even worse was that because it was in a spire you couldn't get in above it, so they had to tunnel up through eight foot of droppings to get rid of it."

He said the two men had had to wear protective clothing because in such quantities the droppings were poisonous and when all the substance was cleared it filled 35 one-ton bags.

As for the two builders who drew the short straw - after a week being avoided by their colleagues they have now received some recompense from their boss. Charles said: "Yes I have given them a bonus- and it had to be rather substantial."

The bill for protecting buildings and cleaning up the mess left by the country's pigeon and gull population, is running to millions of pounds, according to environmental charity Tidy Britain Group. The organisation, together with Wirral Council were today hosting a major urban bird conference in Wallasey.

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