FERAL pigeons are being shot with an airgun on Whitehaven Harbour.

The birds are being culled as part of a controversial hygiene clampdown in the town.

A shocked Whitehaven resident has spoken out to the Whitehaven News after witnessing an armed pest controller shoot dead a bird at 8.40am on Wednesday morning.

While the shooting is legal, it should only be carried out as a "last resort'' says the RSPB.

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, who brought in the pest control firm, says it has to "maintain the highest health and hygiene issues regarding fish".

However, the resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "I was shocked that someone is allowed to just pop them off with an airgun in a public place like that and then just leave them floating in the marina.

"I was just walking my dogs before work and heard what sounded like an airgun. I looked back and saw a puff of feathers. I thought a bird must have flown into something. I could see it floating in the water.

"There are hardly any pigeons around the marina particularly not around West Strand, anyway.

"Things that die in the marina tend to get stuck between boats and the pontoons and they rot and start to stink. There's got to be a better way to deal with this, for everyone.

"There are often kids around. I've no idea what they might make of seeing a pigeon being shot and just left there in the water."

A spokesperson for Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners said: "We have responsibility to maintain the highest health and hygiene standards in relation to the fishing industry, who land their catch at Whitehaven Harbour. The fish and shell fish landed will eventually be used for human consumption.

"Where we have health and hygiene issues that are caused by excessive numbers of feral pigeons, we will on occasion contract with a fully accredited and licensed contractor to resolve the problem."

Chris Collett, a spokesperson for the RSPB, said: "Our view is that legal lethal control should always be a last resort.

"It is legal to lethally control feral pigeons if all non lethal alternatives have been exhausted and they meet the conditions of the general licence.

"For example, it is legal to cull them if they pose a threat to health and safety or are causing damage. Any control needs to be carried out by a licensed person who will do it in a humane way."