Bernard Charles opened his coop at his Huntingtower allotment on Friday morning (July 25) to find 31 dead pigeons, with another 12 missing. The fox had forced it's way in by pushing back some wire mesh.

Bernard said: "I found them on Friday morning and believe you me it was a shock to the system.

"I can't put it into words how gutted I am."

Bernard breeds all of his pigeons himself. In April he lost 27 young pigeons to a similar attack.

Four of Bernard's pigeons have recently raced more than 400 miles each but two of those were lost in the attack.

Bernard, who lives in Huntingtower Road, doesn't know what to do about the fox problem.

He believes people are unlikely to be sympathetic because pigeons and pigeon fanciers are given an unfair reputation.

Bernard said: "Pigeon fanciers across the country have raised thousands of pounds for good causes across the country over the years.

"You hear a lot about people calling pigeons 'rats of the sky' but people forget that carrier pigeons like G.I. Joe saved a lot of lives during the war."

G.I. Joe - The world's most famous pigeon
G.I. Joe saved the lives British soldiers during World War II.

British troops were advancing on the German held town of Colvi Veccia in Italy. They took the town but not before an order for an aerial bombardment of the town had been issued.

With half an hour to warn the British troops a hurried message was tied to the leg of G.I. Joe who was then sent to headquarters.

The pigeon arrived just as the bombers were about to take-off, having flown 20 miles in 20 minutes. The pigeon saved the lives of more than 100 British troops.


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