URGENT action must be taken to tackle an epidemic of pigeon mess under bridges in Renfrewshire, a councillor has warned.

Bird droppings are causing chaos with the Linwood Toll, Paisley, a particular hot spot for mess falling on cars and the footpath below.

And now Councillor John Hood, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, is demanding Renfrewshire Council takes action to combat the rise in pigeon fouling.

Cllr Hood insisted the problem had been getting worse over the last few years.

He said: “There are places in the area where you can’t walk because the mess is six inches deep.

“The birds are roosting on bridges and people are then having to walk through it to get to their destination. It is a joke.

“This has been a bug bear of many people for a long time.”

Despite the efforts of Renfrewshire Council and Network Rail to prevent the mess piling up, pigeons are continuing to return all around the area.

Cllr Hood, who is a frequent walker in the area, added: “I became fully aware of the problem when I was walking along South Campbell Street a few months ago and a chick egg fell on me and hit me on the head. That was the final straw.

“This has been getting worse over the last few years. People are actually having to go out onto the road to avoid the mess.

“We need to make these bridges secure so that the pigeons don’t roost in them.”

The problem has been made more complicated by a legal dispute between Railtrack, who used to own the railways, and the old Strathclyde Regional Council in 1995.

After a lengthy legal dispute, it was confirmed Railtrack was not responsible for droppings from wild birds and the management of pigeon nuisance is the council’s responsibility.

The council’s infrastructure boss, Councillor Cathy McEwan, said: “We recognise birds fouling onto footpaths under railway bridges causes a problem and have agreed to bring forward a comprehensive report so we can review all options.”