Animal rights protesters have signed a petition demanding an end to Worthing Council's culling of pigeons.

The campaigners handed over the petition at the council's environmental health office.

But the council says it has already stopped shooting the birds.

The petition, which has more than 120 signatures, was marked for the attention of environmental health officer David Bowen.

Lilian Taylor, spokeswoman for Worthing Animal Aid, said: "We are asking the council to adopt more effective and humane methods of control, as many other authorities have already done.

"Lethal control is a waste of taxpayers' money because culls have to be repeated again and again."

Animal Aid has contacted the Pigeon Control Advisory Services, which offer advice on humane control to councils.

Schemes include setting up pigeon nesting boxes so eggs can be regularly collected and destroyed.

A council spokesman said: "We have already suspended our limited policy of shooting pigeons. We are currently reviewing how to deal with the problem.

"People who have pigeon problems can come to us for advice."