Animal lovers are protesting against plans to put netting on a shopping centre roof to keep birds off.

They claim the netting, which is supposed to deter birds from landing on buildings and messing on them, is a danger because they fly into it and get trapped.

They say the birds then die a slow death from starvation or dehydration unless they are released.

Many companies in towns and cities across Britain use the netting.

The Churchill Square shopping centre in Brighton already has some netting up but has applied for planning permission to put some on its glass roof.

The move has angered animal lovers, including Sue Young, who has collected names on a petition to protest against the proposal.

Miss Young, of Kingsway, Hove, said the netting was also a danger to the peregrine falcons nesting on top of the nearby Sussex Heights building.

The birds, which have suffered from dwindling numbers, catch pigeons for food and are the world's fastest flying predators. It has been recorded as the fastest animal on Earth, reaching speeds in excess of 112mph.

Miss Young fears the peregrines could end up killing themselves by swooping on pigeons entangled in the netting.

She said: "I learned of the application to put the netting up because I read it on one of those plastic notices on a lamp post. If they get caught they can die a horrible death."

Animal lovers in the city collected signatures on petitions which were presented to Brighton and Hove City Council at Hove Town Hall on Thursday.

Objections about the planning application have to be lodged by Wednesday.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said the netting would have to be fitted by experts and regularly maintained to ensure birds did not get trapped in it.

She said: "It can be very problematic because pigeons can be trapped in the netting.

"It has to be checked every day or trapped birds can starve to death and dehydrate.

"The net has to be fitted properly and they have to make sure birds cannot get caught, otherwise it's a nasty, prolonged death.

"If it's fitted properly it should keep them off but not trap them, but it soon gets holes in it so it needs to be maintained regularly and checked regularly."

Another animal lover, Sue Baumgardt, of Stoneham Road, Hove, said: "This netting is a total death trap to all birds in the Brighton area."

Guy Merchant, director of The Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PICAS), said: "We are deeply unhappy about what the shopping centre has done.

"The netting is 2.4m above the roof height and lies against the skyline so when a bird like a peregrine falcon flies really fast it won't see the netting and will be shredded.

It's also possible that juvenile birds will get their heads stuck in the net."

Mr Merchant said he was staggered that over the last five years the shopping centre had turned down several offers by PICAS for a free service to control birds.

Peter Beard, marketing manager for Churchill Square shopping centre, said: "The bird proofing conforms to the British Pest Control regulations."