FEATHERS flew when 2,000 pigeons faced eviction from their lofts on allotments.

The birds, lovingly bred and reared by Kersal Vale Homing Society in Salford, stood in the way of a £10m flood defence scheme.

The location, off Littleton Road, Salford, meant that the racing thoroughbreds would have to wing it somewhere else.

Now the government and the pigeon club have come up with the answer - ''ideal homes'', costing £70,000, built close enough nearby to ensure the refugee birds do not lose their homing instinct.

The location, just a few yards from the pigeons' present home, was crucial if they were not to lose their sense of direction.

Flood defence

The flood defence work is being carried out by the Environment Agency to protect Salford from the River Irwell.

It involves the creation of an 80-acre basin and earth embankments, designed to contain overflow from the river and safeguard hundreds of homes.

The Environment Agency's regional estates manager, Peter Mills, said: ''We worked closely with the homing society, whose members race pigeons.

''Not only did we progress this important flood defence scheme but were able to take into account the sensitive needs of the area.''

The relocation of about 30 lofts involved the co-operation of neighbouring allotment holders, who agreed to relocate their gardens.

John Winder, chairman of the homing society, said: ''The new lofts are splendid and their relocation is ideal.

''If we had been forced to move any distance, the society may have had to disband, as the pigeons would not have been able to find their way home any more.''

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