Pigeon fanciers 'devastated' to sell birds

A pigeon fancier who is being evicted from his allotment by Network Rail says it has been "heart-wrenching" to sell his birds.

Mick Ready was told in August that the rail provider wanted to close the site where he keeps his pigeons in Dunston, Gateshead.

Netowork Rail initially gave Mr Ready and fellow pigeon fancier Paul Smith six weeks to leave the site, but has since extended the deadline to 1 November.

Mr Ready said he had sold about 100 birds since being told to leave the allotment.

Mr Ready and Mr Smith have been keeping pigeons in lofts on the site since 2009.

The allotments, which are on a railway embankment on Haig Street, have been blighted by anti-social behaviour and Network Rail wants to clear vacant lots.

When the pair first received the eviction notice, they told the BBC they had offered to buy the land to continue keeping their pigeons but their offer was rejected.

Mr Ready said he was resigned to leaving the allotment and had been "devastated" to sell his birds.

He has about 30 left to sell, but said it was becoming more difficult.

"Everyone we roughly know has already bought them," Mr Ready said.

He said it was unclear whether he would be able to continue taking part in his hobby after he lost the allotment.

"I've got nowhere to keep them," he said, adding his garden was too small.

"I've kept a family [of birds] by just in case something comes up last minute."

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