PIGEON fanciers across East Lancashire said they were outraged at the assertion by an animal welfare organisation that the sport has a culture of ‘unremitting and deliberate cruelty’.

The RSPCA has agreed to ‘look into’ the activity, after Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) put pressure on the charity to prosecute negligent pigeon owners.

It follows an investigation by Peta showing three quarters of birds raced across the British Channel did not return, with tens of thousands of them presumed dead.

Undercover investigators also highlighted practices such as widowhood, or the separation of partnered birds, to make them fly faster, and inhumane culling of pigeons who are not strong competitors.

Brian Dearn, secretary of the Lancashire Social Circle, said he would report anyone who made pigeons suffer.

He said: “Keeping them properly and racing them gives them a good life.

“They get fine food and warm houses provided for them.

“I’m not proud of it, but this means we have to take over nature’s role and ring the necks of the weak or deformed ones.

“I’ve lost five per cent of my flock over the years, and this is likely to be because of birds of prey.

“I do widowhood, but cocks and hens are calmer if you separate them sometimes.

“People make animals do lots of things they don’t want to, like making a dog wear a lead.”

Harry Aspin, treasurer of Burnley Premier Homing Society, said he has raced pigeons for 60 years and had never heard of fanciers be reckless with their flock.

He said: “There’s very little money in 99 per cent of the sport.

“Most weeks you are lucky if you get £5 at our races.

“It’s when you bring big money in that pigeons start getting mistreated.

“I’ve got a bad chest and I’m not supposed to keep mine anymore, but I don’t give them up because I love them.”

Secretary of the society, Joyce Green, said: “Most of mine are portly and haven’t a hope of winning a race.

“They’re pets to me really.”

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: "The RSPCA cares about all animals and takes all forms of animal cruelty and suffering seriously, including racing pigeons.

"We can confirm we have been given some information from Peta which we are looking into."