Feathers could fly over plans to remove cockerels from a Whitehaven allotment site.

Sneckyeat allotment holders claim their plots are historical small holdings and they have kept livestock on them for decades.

However, Whitehaven Town Council, which runs the allotments, is now looking into whether the birds should be removed.

Stephen Corkhill has kept cockerels on the site for 30 years. He said: "There has never been a problem before with me keeping them. It is a great hobby and I breed them to exhibit at shows.

"They are not roosters and don't disturb people. I've never had any complaints.''

Allotment holders are also angry with the level of maintenance at Sneckyeat.

"Less money is spent on our site than the others in the town,'' Stephen said. "There are two vacant plots here that are so scruffy this is knocking off people wanting to take them on.''

He was also angry that pensioner concessions for allotments had been removed by the Town Council and questioned the need for allotments to be fifty percent cultivated.

"We end up producing too much food which rots or the rabbits eat it.''

And Stephen added: "We all enjoying working on our allotment it is a great leisure pursuit. I don't understand what the problem is with continuing to keep cockerels.''

A spokesperson for Whitehaven Town Council said: "This matter of cockerels was discussed at the last allotments meeting and was deferred for further investigation.

"The allotment contact signed by all allotment holders clearly states the keeping of hens (not cockerels) is permitted.''

Hedge trimming, fencing pot-holes, gates, locks are all part of a maintenance programme for 2016/17, the spokesman stated, and will reviewed on a planned visit to the allotments. A skip has already been agreed.

The spokesperson said: "The cost of cleaning a plot can be between £1-£2,000 due to the waste disposal cost. It is therefore not expedient to clear a plot until a lessee has been confirmed. There are over 40 potential allotment holders on the waiting list and demand exceeds supply.''

And he added while pensioner concessions have been removed, this could be reviewed in six months time. The 50 per cent cultivation rule is "integral to contract signed by all allotment holders''.

Coun Jeanette Forster, chair of the allotments committee, said: "We, as Whitehaven Town Council, will continue to work with all allotment holders.

"It has been resolved to co-opt a representative from each allotment site onto the committee to ensure a full and transparent consultation takes place.''