Network Rail has been criticised by an animal welfare charity for ‘condemning pigeons to a slow and lingering death’ through irresponsible netting under railway bridges.

The Wildlife Aid Foundation, based Leatherhead, has said volunteers are frequently called to rescue pigeons caught in the netting underneath the railway bridge at Guildford Road in Leatherhead.

Simon Cowell MBE and founder of the Wildlife Aid Foundation said: "The nets and wire mesh were obviously intended to keep birds out but in fact they do nothing of the kind.

"What happens is that birds get in through holes or where the netting has not been properly secured, and then find that they cannot get out.

"Today we found lots of dead and dying pigeons trapped inside the mesh and there are several decomposing corpses of pigeons lying in filth which is then falling down, bit by bit, onto the footpath."

"It looks like Network Rail and its contractors are negligent here in that they have not considered either human health or animal welfare when putting up this netting and wire mesh."

The Foundation reported the situation to Network Rail demanding immediate action and Network Rail has since removed the dead pigeons, despite stating responsibility rests with Mole Valley Council.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "While we thank the Wildlife Aid Foundation for raising this issue, they should be aware that responsibility for pigeon-proofing underneath Guildford Road Railway Bridge rests with Mole Valley District Council."

"We do have an agreement in place with the council but mindful of the nature of the problem a small maintenance team carried out the work on Monday, September 19.

"The netting will have been inspected and if it needs to be maintained we will be speaking to the council."

Councillor Chris Reynolds, portfolio holder for environment, said: "Mole Valley District Council originally installed the netting under the railway bridge over the Guildford Road in the interests of the community, as pigeons were defecating on the pavement below.

"While MVDC is responsible for the netting, Network Rail is responsible for the maintenance of the bridge.

"Therefore we must work together to try and resolve the problem for the long term."