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A Swansea café has come up with a unique way of deterring pesky pigeons from bothering its customers.

The owners of Coffee Fresco in Swansea Marina have dipped into their pockets to provide water soakers for their customers to aim at any pigeon that lands on their table in an attempt to scavenge food from under their noses.

They claimed the birds had been ruffling feathers for a number of years and the move, which is not seen as causing any lasting harm to the birds, was seen as a last resort.

The cafe’s manager, Gary Mills, said: “It’s been a problem ever since the shop opened but every summer it gets worse and worse, more pigeons come.

“We have put signs up saying ‘Do not feed the pigeons’, we have tried plastic eagles to scare them away, all sorts of things but now we have just reverted to giving our customers water squirters.”

The move has gone down well with his customers.

Mr Mills said: “They think it’s hilarious but it is a pain. As soon as the table is clear the pigeons attack the left overs. We are always on our toes to get the tables cleared as soon as possible.”

He was keen to point out the move did not harm the birds.

He said: “It doesn’t harm the pigeons, in fact they are so used to it they just fly away and come back two minutes later.”

And while some are calling on the council to do something about the growing nuisance of scavenging birds in the city Mr Mills is more sympathetic.

He said: “What can the council do? They have put stuff to stop them perching on surfaces above the building but they can’t stop them landing on walkways. I don’t know what the solution is.”

As for the customers, one regular said: “I think it’s a great idea and it appears to be quite effective.

“The café has been absolutely besieged by the pigeons, they even land on the tables as you’re siting there.”

Another added: “It works. I’ve used it lots of times and have hit quite a few. They don’t like it but it doesn’t hurt them; they just fly away for a bit. They always come back.

“They have got quite used to it by now and they only have to see you pick it up and they fly off.”

Swansea council has introduced a ban on feeding pigeons and seagulls in the city centre.