AN Ilkley councillor's crusade against pigeons has been joined by colleague who is also trying to banish rats from the town.

Councillor Martin Smith (Con) is negotiating with rail operator Northern Spirit to try and get anti-pigeon measures installed at the railway station.

He is also talking to Bradford council's environmental health department to try and get similar measures, such as high tension wires put up at the King's Hall/Winter Gardens complex because the droppings are disfiguring the buildings.

The problem is thought to be caused by the number of people in the town who feed the birds in the town's shopping street.

Bradford Council's environment boss Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con - Ilkley) has asked officers to investigate whether designated bird feeding areas could be set up.

This would allow children to learn about looking after wildlife at the same time as keeping public buildings clean. Officers are now investigating whether there are any other areas in the country which have already done this to see if the scheme has worked or not.

Coun Hawkesworth has also received complaints from residents in Ben Rhydding that rats are once again becoming a common sight in gardens.

Earlier this year Ilkley was pinpointed as one of the Bradford

district's vermin hotspots along with inner city Manningham and University wards.

Yorkshire Water, the company responsible for baiting the sewers had promised an action plan to try and deal with the problem.

Coun Hawkesworth has again been in touch with the company to insist that a regular baiting system is set up to rid the town of rats

permanently.