WILDLIFE campaigners are demanding the urgent removal of “death trap” netting at a Southend train station after “distressing” scenes of pigeons becoming trapped and dying emerged.

c2c staff used specialist equipment to help free an injured pigeon at Southend East train station last week, but residents have now claimed this is a regular issue and birds are dying as a result.

Claire Burroughs, 39, from Southend, is urging c2c to replace the netting to prevent more pigeons getting trapped.

She is a member of the Southend Wildlife Network, a group formed by “concerned” members of the public, and says “at least a dozen” pigeons which died at the station have been reported to the group since it was founded in June last year.

A spokesman for c2c admitted the netting has “deteriorated” and insisted it will be replaced “as soon as possible”.

The netting at the station is designed as a deterrent to stop pigeons nesting on the platform and protect from live cabling above.

Claire said: “It’s awful. It’s not nice for commuters to see, or especially children. It’s distressing.

“I understand why the netting is there. Not everyone likes pigeons, but everyone can agree no animal deserves to suffer like that.

“The netting is not a deterrent; it’s acting more like a death trap.

“It’s traumatising, and you feel hopeless because you can’t do anything to help.”

One option being explored by c2c is the installation of “pigeon spikes” to replace the netting and deter the birds.

Claire added: “Myself and other members of Southend Wildlife Network have been called out multiple times by members of the community who were distressed because of birds trapped in the station’s currently illegal netting.

“This is illegal under the Countryside and Wildlife Act 1981, as it is illegal to allow wild animals to suffer. We have been in touch with British transport police and wildlife crime officers to push for this netting to be replaced.

“Many children see this awful cruelty to these birds constantly. Our fight to get this netting sorted out continues.

“Several birds have lost their lives at this station, because of this cruel deteriorated netting”

A spokesman for c2c said: “In the interim, we are exploring the application of pigeon spikes to manage the environmental health impact to passengers. The emergency services did attend the incident but were unable to rescue the pigeon because of safety concerns due to the location of the live electrical line. The injured bird was rescued by rail workers with specialist equipment.

“We know this situation was distressing and we want to reassure customers that animal welfare and our commitment to local wildlife is of paramount importance to us.”

Claire has started a petition at change.org/p/replace-the-illegal-pigeon-proof-netting-at-southend-east-train-station