PIGEONS roosting at York Minster are in for a rude awakening. The feathered fiends, who are damaging one of the world's finest cathedrals with their droppings, face a hostile visit by their arch-enemy - the hawk.

A bird of prey is the latest plan hatched by staff at the Minster to rid the monument of the pesky pigeons.

Up to now, nothing has ruffled the feathers of the birds, whose droppings are acidic and eat away at the stonework.

Even in death the pigeons rule the roost, with expired birds blocking pipes and causing floods.

Staff have tried stringing humming wires to unnerve the pigeons, but they refused to take flight. They even installed plastic owls to scare them away, but superintendent of works Stephen Mills said: that within two days they were perching on the owls' heads .

He said: "They are a problem that we have had for some time."

Now he hopes a trained hawk could finally get the pigeons in a flap.

He said: "It seemed to me that a hawk could be the way forward. "Small hawks don't have a chance of catching the pigeons, but the pigeons would be scared away. Eventually, they will get the message and find somewhere else to roost."

Mr Mills is currently in discussion with falconry experts to see if his plan is possible.

He said: "It would give us about six weeks' respite, but it could get expensive if we have to keep bringing them back. We might have to get trained hawks of our own.

"I am still taking advice."

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