PIGEONS can be a health hazard and should not be fed, Thanet residents are being warned.

Environemtnal experts say the birds can carry a number of potentially infectious diseases, including Salmonella and E.coli, which can be caught through contact with droppings, dandruff and feathers from pigeons.

Ornithosis, a disease, which can lead to fever, coughs and, in severe cases, pneumonia is easily passed to humans. Previous studies have shown that the majority of pigeons carry this organism.

Thanet Council pollution environmental manager Paul Martin said: "The council is committed to ensuring the streets in our town centres are as clean as possible but feeding pigeons leads to more mess, which has to be cleared up and this has to be paid for by the Council Tax payers.

"Feeding pigeons can attract mice and rats and put human health at risk. The droppings can also be costly, as they are acidic and can eat into the fabric of building.

"People who feed pigeons are not helping to keep the birds healthy, as the food can often lack the essential nutrients which they need. It also leads to increasing breeding throughout the year which can make them dependant on people and keeps the population artificially high, giving rise to further problems and complaints."