Animal rights campaigners have been protesting against the proposed cull of pigeons in Skipton.

The group, which has called itself Save the Skipton Pigeons, held a demonstration outside the town hall on Saturday.

Craven District Council has opted for the trapping and culling of the birds which sparked outcry from residents.

A spokesman for Save the Pigeons said: "The killing of pigeons is inhumane and ineffective, not to mention a complete waste of taxpayers' money."

Guy Merchant, a member of the Pigeon Control Advisory Service, Britain's leading pigeon control expert, said culling was not a long-term answer.

"Numbers quickly return to pre-cull levels and you just create a vicious circle," he said.

"PICAS has offered to install a complete pigeon control mechanism in the town that could effectively, permanently and humanely reduce pigeon numbers."

Protesters also said killing birds was a breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

Environmental officers said the cull was not being undertaken at the moment and added the council wants to educate the public and discourage people from feeding the birds.