A TROWBRIDGE bird-lover has been fined £500 with £1,600 costs for breaching a community protection notice ordering her not to put out so much food for them.

Maureen Francis, of Langford Road, Trowbridge, was convicted in her absence at Salisbury Magistrates Court after failing to attend.

The court was told that flocks of gulls and pigeons brought noise, mess and nuisance to residents after she fed the birds excessively over two years.

Following neighbours’ complaints, Mrs Francis was issued with a community protection notice and an order to stop leaving out so much food.

She was asked to put out a single bird feeder but she ignored the notice and was prosecuted by Wiltshire Council.

Cllr Jerry Wickham, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for public protection, said: “Our officers made numerous attempts to engage with Mrs Francis to try and resolve this problem.

“We were reluctant to take legal action but for the sake of the neighbours, prosecution was the only option.”