A village pub caused outrage by sealing up an historic dovecote, leaving birds and their babies trapped inside.
Pest controllers were called in to cement up entrance holes to the dovecote which has been near the Captain’s Wife pub in the village of Sully, near Penarth, South Wales for 80 years.
Soon after, bird lovers arrived to free the white doves and their young, which could be heard flapping around inside, and police attended the scene.
The pub claims it had taken the action on Health and Safety grounds because the doves annoy customers eating outside in the summer.
The historic dovecote provided shelter for doves and pigeons on the south Wales coast in Sully, near Penarth
But local wildlife groups say it’s ‘barbaric’ and are asking locals to boycott the pub.
After the outrage, the pub announced a u-turn on its decision.
Dozens of birds had escaped before the dovecote was initially sealed off and are roosting in a nearby tree.
Campaigners say they will perish in harsh winter weather and add that a rescue operation is under way.
Carol Gravenor, who runs a bird rescue group, said: ‘This is cruelty beyond words.
‘There are doves and their babies still in there, they will starve to death in no time.
‘The birds that got out are in a nearby tree but they won’t last long – the pub is on the seafront and it’s blowing cold.
‘Why did they do this in the winter? What were they thinking of?’
Carol’s husband Ray, 69, tried to open up some of the blocked holes urged on by a dozen protesters.
Local wildlife groups say decision iss ‘barbaric’ and are asking locals to boycott the pub. After the outrage, the pub announced a u-turn on its decision
He said: ‘The pub manager called the police and I wasn’t allowed onto the premises.
‘I don’t want to get into trouble but what they’ve done is disgusting and barbaric, especially at this time of year.
‘You can hear cooing sounds, it’s like putting someone in a prison cell and forgetting about them.’
Doves, a symbol of peace at Christmas, have the ability to breed all year round so parent birds stayed with their young when the dovecote was sealed up.
Both the RSPB and the RSPCA are investigating but South Wales Police said the pub had not broken the law.
A spokeswoman said: ‘We attended The Captain’s Wife public house on Tuesday evening after concerns were raised about a planned protest at the location.
‘On arrival, officers found a small number of people had gathered to discuss their concerns with the pub’s manager. No offences were committed.’
Villagers said a protester went to the pub in the middle for the night and managed to cut two small holes in the dovecote to free captive birds inside.
The pub, known for its cosy log fires, has had so many complaints it has closed down its TripAdvisor page.
Locals ecology campaigner Julie Barton said: ‘One of the reasons people go to this pub is because of the dovecote, it’s an attraction that’s been there for 80 years.
‘I’m outraged and I’ll do everything I can to discourage people from going to the Captain’s Wife until the current management is removed.’
On Wednesday morning, Vintage Inns, which owns the pub, announced it would reopen the dovecote.
A spokesman said: ‘Following internal consultations and a review of our original decision we will be reopening the dovecote today. We will be making contact with a local bird rescue group so we can work with them to resolve the situation.
‘Our original decision to block the dovecote was made on the grounds of health and safety and hygiene, because of the large amount of pigeons and total number of other birds using the dovecote which was creating a seriously unhygienic environment. Please be assured in this process it was our intention and priority that no birds were harmed in the blocking of the dovecote.’
