Neighbours of a woman banned from feeding pigeons outside her flat say the flocks of birds have made their lives a misery.

Margaret Waite has been told she will be evicted from her home if she does not stop putting crumbs out for the pigeons.

A court made the decision, effective from midnight on Thursday, after residents complained to Brighton and Hove City Council about the birds.

Mark Andrew, 29, suffers from asthma and lives near Mrs Waite in Swanborough Place, Whitehawk.

He said: "With all the pigeon dust flying around, my lungs get really tight and I find it really hard to breathe.

"This property was given to me specifically because it was suitable for my condition and this is making my life a misery."

Mrs Waite, 58, who has emphysema, started feeding the birds five years ago after being diagnosed as terminally ill.

The number of pigeons flocking to the area doubled to more than 50 each time.

On Thursday, she told The Argus she would starve herself to death if she had to stop feeding the birds.

Brighton and Hove City Council said it had offered Mrs Waite the chance of moving to a bungalow with a garden where she could carry out limited bird feeding but she declined.

Another of Mrs Waite's neighbours, John Wayne, 71, has terminal lung disease.

He said: "We have had water running down the walls of our flat because the balcony above is inches deep in pigeon excrement.

"It flooded and all the water came in through the concrete. This is an absolute nightmare."

Mrs Waite said it had been proved in court that the pigeons were not responsible for any health problems and she felt there was a "vendetta" against her.

The problem has caused tensions between Mrs Waite and other residents and police were called to a disturbance at the block of flats on Thursday night.

Claudia Burton, chairwoman of the North Whitehawk Tenants and Residents Association, said: "I can see both sides.

"If she lives alone and sees them as her babies then I feel for her.

"But at the same time the pigeons are a menace."