A flock of robotic falcons is standing guard over a shopping centre with a pigeon problem.

The squawking birds have been placed on the roof of Priory Meadow shopping centre in Hastings to deter the pigeons and seagulls.

One mechanised bird of prey perches inside, above fashion store New Look, to frighten birds out of the centre.

Bemused customers stare skywards trying to work out the source of the screeching.

The six-strong squad are mounted on swivelling plates so they face into the wind, mimicking the natural behaviour of their real-life counterparts.

They hop up and down, flutter their wings and emit the occasional shriek.

Manager of the shopping centre John Hough heard about the solution to his bird problem from pest controller Tom Keithly.

He hopes pigeons and seagulls, which once flocked to the centre, to nest have been scared away for good.

In the last year more than £20,000 has been spent trying to rid the mall of the birds who pose a serious health and safety threat.

Mr Hough said: We have tried just about everything.

We have had a pigeon problem for years but it has been getting worse.