A WILTSHIRE woman was convicted at Salisbury magistrates' court last week - for feeding the birds "excessively".

Maureen Francis, of Langford Road in Trowbridge, was previously ordered to stop leaving out so much bird food, and asked to put out a single bird feeder.

But Wiltshire Council prosecuted her after she ignored the notice, saying the "flocks of gulls and pigeons brought noise, mess and nuisance to residents" living near Francis.

She was convicted in her absence at Salisbury magistrates of breaching a community notice, and fined £500 with £1,600 costs.

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.”