Pigeons are causing havoc for a council in Norfolk as it attempts to keep the streets clean.

Eastern Daily Press: Pigeons perched on buildings in Diss. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYPigeons perched on buildings in Diss. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Diss Town Council has begun working with South Norfolk Council to try to keep Mere Street and Mere Mouth clean after several complaints from visitors.

Currently a cleaner from South Norfolk Council attends the street once a week while workers from Diss Town Council are there up to two hours every day.

A trial was agreed between the councils to see if a more efficient routine could be found using the town council workers.

South Norfolk Councillor for Diss, Keith Kiddie, said: "We send a large mechanical cleaner from the district council once a week but it does not get into all the little corners.

Eastern Daily Press: District councillor Keith Kiddie. Picture: ArchantDistrict councillor Keith Kiddie. Picture: Archant (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2015)

"By the time we have cleaned the street, because of the pigeons, we are back to where we started just as soon."

Mr Kiddie suggested another machine, owned by South Norfolk, which the town council could use.

Sonya French, deputy clerk at Diss Town Council, said: "We used one of their machines, called a billy goat, but unfortunately it didn't work as it is normally used to clean parks and on grass."

Mr Kiddie said that there are hundreds of pigeons that gather at Mere Mouth but because people keep feeding them the numbers are increasing.

Eastern Daily Press: Pigeons among the ducks and seagulls at the Mere in Diss. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYPigeons among the ducks and seagulls at the Mere in Diss. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

He added: "People enjoy feeding the birds at the Mere so I don't want to get to the stage where we have to start removing them.

"But there are plenty of machines out there that can be used to clean the street which I am looking into."

As well as the cleaning trial, the council has considered bringing in a hawk that would scare away the pigeons from the area.

Ms French added: "The handler suggested a flight of about one to one-and-a-half hours. The hawk would not kill any of the other birds but would scare them away.

"For the flights to take place signatures must be collected from businesses in the area. Currently there at 27 and there needs to be 30."