Pet cats should be banned from going outside to stop them from killing birds, the Conservation Officer for the Royal Parks in London has said.

Tony Duckett, who has been in charge of Regent Park's rare birds since 1978, has said that cats are the cause of many avian deaths.

In response to BBC presenter Chris Packham's successful campaign against general shooting licences, which allow farmers to kill birds causing damage to their animals and crops, Suffolk farmers Brian and Patrick Barker said pet cats are far more of a threat to bird life.

They said the revocation of the general licences was a "shameful state of affairs", adding: "Getting rather fed up with all this General Licence stuff so I’m going to suggest one more! GenLic 101: required if you want to keep a domestic cat.

"It must be kept inside at all times and not left to roam free as they do more silent damage than corvids do to all bird populations."

Mr Duckett replied: "I agree, these so-called pets shouldn't be allowed to roam freely, s---ting in other people's gardens, killing birds or just putting them off. The owners have no right spoiling other people's enjoyment. I'd love to take their s--- back and scatter it over their owners garden.