A family have been plagued with a bird infestation which has left carcasses and excrement strewn across their garden.

Ever since grandmother Pauline Saker moved into her new home in Rochester a year ago, she's had to put up with pigeons getting stuck in her roof, some enduring a painful death along with their chicks.

The birds have got through netting attached to solar panels to use the space as a breeding nest, but some have been unable to get out.

It's meant the mum-of-five and her daughter, Donna Thompson, have hardly ventured outside this summer because of the stench, mess and distress being suffered by the pigeons.

Pauline, 64, is also reluctant to let her grandchildren play outside and the new paddling pool she bought them has hardly been used.

Speaking last week, mum-of-two Donna, 42, said she's complained to Habinteg Housing Association, the landlords of the property in Weatherly Close, but says it has refused to help.

Instead she has called the RSPCA twice whose team members have in turn called fire crews to rescue the stranded birds.

Animal lover Donna said: "It's very upsetting. I called the RSPCA yesterday and the pigeon died five minutes before she got here. I bawled my eyes out."

Pauline added: "I bought a fake hawk scarer to put them off, but it didn't work. If I had a ladder big enough, I would be up there trying to get them out."

She moved into the house from south east London with Pauline and her daughter Amy, 17, and son Charlie, 19, to improve their "quality of life".

Pauline said: "We like it here, but just want to get this sorted."

When contacted by KentOnline, Habinteg's head of asset management, Michael Vickers, said: "We’re sorry Ms Saker has had this experience.

"We work hard to ensure all of our tenants are happy in their homes. We have spoken with her and our contractor will be attending her home to repair any areas where pigeons may be breaching the guards.

"They will also be undertaking an inspection of all pigeon guards across the Weatherly Close scheme."

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