Protesters have demanded a permanent end to a pigeon cull.

Councillors in Worthing will decide next week whether to restart shooting the birds.

Protesters claim culling is inhumane and the council introduced a temporary ban over the summer following the complaints.

Next week a petition with more than 120 names will be presented to Worthing Borough Council executive member for environmental services Richard Bell calling for a permanent end to the cull.

A decision will be made on Wednesday.

Council environmental health manager David Bowen said: "In the past there has been very limited pigeon culling activity in Worthing and always as a result of a particular problem reported by a member of the public at their property.

"We suspended this back in April because of concerns expressed by the public. But we have continued to give the public advice about how to discourage them.

"We do not believe there is a tremendous problem in the town from pigeons. But from time to time they do cause local difficulties such as fouling of buildings.

"If there are humane methods of pest control that work we will always use them - and that's not just for pigeons."

The petition was organised by Worthing Animal Aid.

Spokesman Lilian Taylor said: "Culling is believed to be ineffective, as the vacancies left by the dead birds are quickly filled by young birds, and undesirable on animal welfare grounds."

She said culling was a waste of council taxpayers' money as the process kept having to be repeated.

More humane methods included setting up pigeon boxes where eggs can be destroyed before they hatch, she said.