Richard Vahram's concern for the future welfare of the starlings which roost on the decaying West Pier is timely (January 3).

The chance of restoration work forestalling the pier's collapse into the sea is slight. However, starlings are resourceful and persistent creatures.

Older Brightonians may remember when they used to roost in the large elms opposite the Theatre Royal to the chagrin of wealthy theatre-goers in their evening finery - until, that is, it was discovered that the protected elms were infected with Dutch elm disease and felled.

The starlings then moved to the trees on the other side of the Pavilion where bird-scarer cartridges served only to produce a mass evacuation of starling bowels at every report.

Imitation hawk silhouettes had some success but the discovery by some pioneering starling of the derelict West Pier proved a boon to Brighton.

The loss of this priceless facility and a return to shore of our feathered tormentors is something this fledgling city can ill afford.

I therefore suggest that the council prepares a bid for a National Lottery grant to provide off-shore facilities for the dispossessed asylum- seekers when the ultimate collapse occurs.

-R F Osborne, Rushlake Close, Brighton