A BLOCK of flats has been infested with nesting pigeons sparking fears over health, it has been claimed.

Residents at the flats, in London Road, Westcliff, spoke out over the problem which they claim has worsened over the past 18 months.

The pigeons appear to be nesting on residents’ balconies and have left faeces over the entrance to the flats, causing the gates into the apartments to break.

Property managers Rylands Associates insist they are taking action to resolve the problem.

Olivia O’Brien, who lives in one of the flats with her partner Dan, said: “It’s now a health and safety problem, it’s been going on for months and months and months.

“The poo is poisonous and can cause real health care problems.

“They fly onto the balconies and nest right onto them and I’ve had to put spikes on my balcony myself to try and stop them.

“They wake me up really early and I try to shoo them away but they come back minutes later.”

Ms O’Brien claimed the management company had not acted quickly enough over the issue.

She said: “I’ve done everything, I’ve contacted them over and over but they haven’t done anything.

“The service is appalling.

“The buzzer is now broken because of the poo, due to them sleeping on the electrical box.

“It’s really embarrassing now, my friends and family don’t want to press the buzzer because of the poo.

“All the residents are in a WhatsApp group and we have meetings to discuss what’s going on.”

Another resident Danielle Parkins, 33, added: “It’s unreal, it’s disgusting.

“It’s getting quite distressing and unhygienic, the whole place needs sanitising.

“It’s got worse over the past few months, there’s poo all over my balcony, I don’t want to sit out there anymore.

“The entrance is difficult, it’s not opening or closing properly.

“It’s a squeeze to get my car through without scraping it.

“They (Rylands Associates) don’t do anything, they haven’t sent anyone”

A spokesman for Rylands Associates confirmed they were working on the issue.

They added: “I can confirm we are aware of the pest issue at the development and have been obtaining quotes in order to instruct the works.

“We have had property managers and maintenance co-ordinators visit the site in order to resolve the issue for a long-term result.

“We have been in contact with the lessees and will continue to do so.”