Concern over bird cull

WORRIED residents called police after shots were heard in Telscombe Cliffs on Friday morning.

People were alarmed when gunmen with high-powered rifles began shooting pigeons at Kirby Farm, off Telscombe Cliffs Way.

Some were concerned shots could stray into homes in Grassmere Avenue. One resident said: 'I think it is very dangerous and irresponsible for them to be shooting near a residential area.

Police were alerted at 8.45am by a report of a shotgun being fired. Officers from Newhaven were soon on the scene.

A police spokesman said: 'There were three calls in all. One indicated they were firing in the direction of the houses. The officers were made aware of that and spoke to them about it.

Farmer Gordon Northcote confirmed men were on his land to cull pigeons which were destroying rapeseed crops. It is legal to shoot pigeons if permission has been given by the landowner.

PC Eddie Phipps spoke to the marksmen. He told the Express: 'There were four people employed by the farmer to shoot vermin. It was a professional set-up.

'The noise from the high-powered rifles made it sound like the shots were coming from everywhere, but they were firing into the fields, away from the houses.