Pesky pigeons are putting townsfolk in a flap -- and could land a bridge owner with a hefty bill.

The birds are leaving their droppings on the path in Crown Street, Cleckheaton, making it slippery and dangerous for people passing underneath.

Now Sustrans, a charity creating cycle tracks, has been warned it could be liable for any damages claims made by the victims of pigeon poo.

Members of Spen Valley's Civic Society raised the problem of bird mess on the pavement with the owner of the bridge, Sustrans, which is responsible for the Spen Valley Greenway, and warned it could face the wrath of litigants.

They felt Sustrans should sort the problem out, or face the consequences.

One suggestion was to put nets under the bridge to stop the birds roosting, but concerns were expressed that pigeons could get trapped behind them.

"There is the issue of maintenance and of closing the road if we were to put nets up," said Sustrans regional manager David Hall.

"We have spoken to Kirklees Council, asking them what they want us to do and are waiting to hear from them. I don't know who's responsible for telling the pigeons to go away!

"If people are happy for public money to be spent doing this then we will do all we can to help. But first someone has to make an assessment as to how serious the problem is."

Nearby resident Patricia Ramsden said: "The path is used by the elderly, the young and people with prams.

"People come down from the estates via this path and the mess is a real pest. In the past the pigeons used to roost in the old chimneys and malt kilns, but now they are all gone they use the bridge."

She said someone had cleaned the mess off the path. "But as fast as they can get it off, there is another load," she said.

Jill Sykes, of Kirklees Environmental Waste, said they had cleaned the footpath "innumerable" times and would continue to do so.

"The last time we cleaned it was not very long ago and was done at

the request of a local councillor," she said. "The mess is something we are aware of and we are more than willing to talk to Sustrans about anything that needs doing.

"I hope they are as good as their word and will do something about the pigeons roosting there in the first place."

She said someone would visit the site today to clean it. "We have to shovel it up and then bleach the pavement," said Ms Sykes.

"I agree it can be dangerous if left and I would hate to see someone fall."

Railtrack said they had had similar problems in the capital. A spokesman said he believed it was the council's responsibility to ensure the streets were kept clean and tidy.

"But at the end of the day, pigeons are feral creatures and will only roost 200 to 300 metres from a food source," he said.

He said in London train stations they had erected notices asking people not to feed the pigeons.

Reporter Kim McRae, pictured, experienced the problems first hand when she had to shield herself from pigeons at the bridge.