PIGEONS do not attract rats. The biggest single culprit for the prolific existence of the rat is the human being.

What attracts the rat in the town or city centre is the waste and rubbish discarded, which has been purchased from the pizza parlours, burger bars and kebab shops in the town and indiscriminately thrown on to the streets by its inhabitants - full and overflowing waste bins attract rats.

As for any disease the pigeon may carry and its threat to mankind - it is more dangerous going into hospital for a routine operation. Statistics and fact prove this.

If persons have to be employed in the cleaning of buildings, at least it keeps the unemployment figures down.

Do not knock the pigeon, many of the town's inhabitants, both elderly and young, gain extreme pleasure in feeding one of God's creatures, which is a union with nature.

Get real - there are far more important problems that need to be resolved in Bolton without efforts being wasted on "bird brain schemes".

Arnold Harrison

Manchester Road West

Little Hulton