Messrs Pateman and Harrison (Letters, June 21 and June 28, respectively) are both correct despite their difference of opinion about the local bird problem.

But what neither mentioned was the problem of indiscriminate bird feeding in public places.

I recently removed 1.2 tonnes of pigeon droppings from the roof of a building on the seafront.

This is largely a result of bird feeders, who throw out grain and bread all day. There was a colony of about 200 pigeons living there, waiting for their next meal.

Notices asking people not to feed the pigeons had been ripped down.

Hove Lawns, Palmeira Square, Brunswick Square, Hove Town Hall and Preston Park are all areas where there are pigeon and gull problems because of the bird feeders. I know this because my business is based on dealing with the resulting problem.

In Switzerland, there is a law against feeding birds in public places. But who would enforce such a law here?

A Brighton cafe owner in a pigeon problem area told me he asked a member of the public not to feed the pigeons his leftover sandwich.

"I've paid for my food so I'll do what I want with it", came the reply.

To feed birds, use bird feeders and don't feed them in public places. Brighton and Hove City Council needs to decide whether to cull the birds or the people feeding them.

-John "the birdman" Butler, Clean Dimensions, Portslade