BOLTON pigeon fanciers are in a right royal flap over their fund raising sale due to be held this weekend. A particularly well bred bird is winging its way to town to make a guest appearance. The pigeon has a special pedigree - it belongs to the Queen!

One of Her Majesty's birds will be among those up for sale at the Bolton based Lancashire Central Homing Club's event on Sunday.

The club on Lower Bridgeman Street, Bolton, hopes to raise money to carry out much needed repairs.

About 30 pigeons will go on sale, many donated by club members or friends. The club has about 100 members throughout the country.

Member Tony Fletcher explained: "Not many people know about pigeon racing. Few for example, realise that the Queen races pigeons.

"She will be sending one of her birds to Bolton as a show of support for the sale.

"Most people don't even know that the pigeons we race are a breed apart from those seen regularly on the streets.

"These have pedigrees which go as far back as four or five generations. Street pigeons are vermin, but racing pigeons are most definitely not.

"The record amount paid for a racing pigeon is £110,000 and on average they sell for £20 to £30.

"Unfortunately, in recent times pigeons have been given a bad press from Jack Duckworth in Coronation Street. Until recently they were constantly referred to on the programme as vermin."

The club has raised thousands of pounds for charity.

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