pigeon loft

"The report was made at about 1.20am when officers reported a fire in a pigeon loft.

A spokesperson forNorthumbria Policesaid: "Police received a report from two officers of a fire at an allotment on Benton Road, West Allotment on New Year's Day."The report was made at about 1.20am when officers reported a fire in a pigeon loft."The fire service attended to extinguish the fire and it is believed all the pigeons died in the blaze.

In his paper he writes: "For some racers, the pigeon loft was a masculine enclave and a retreat from the pressures of domestic life, but for others it was an opportunity to share time with their families."

Andrew Deacon in his pigeon loft in Cardiffand, right, back in the 1980s at the 'pigeon dos' Richard Swingler

Stephen Salmon, 59, was on the phone when his neighbour started banging on his front door in Trowbridge, Cardiff, saying his pigeon loft was on fire.

But around two hours later his neighbour was banging on the door saying the pigeon loft had caught fire.

Matt Baker meets staff including Her Maj's Pigeon Loft Manager, while John Craven reports on the area's devastating storm and floods of 1953.

Emergency services were called after a pigeon loft was torched in the Loranville area of in Larne, Co Antrim, shortly after 2am.

The blaze began when an unattended wood burner in one allotment sparked a fire which ripped through the neighbouring allotments, destroying Alan's pigeon loft and another two sheds.

Soldiers who had laughed when ordered to carry a pigeon loft round with them were later on delighted to use pigeons."

And, incredibly, taxpayers are now footing a sum of PS40,000 for a new pigeon loft to house the Royals' birds at Sandringham to provide a "modern well ventilated spacious environment" for the 200 royal pigeons.

JUST months ago, former soldier Martin Appleby spent his nights taking shelter in a lthy pigeon loft.