CONCERNED animal rights campaigners are demanding answers after the mysterious disappearance of a trapped pigeon.

On Thursday, the Echo reported a pigeon had been spotted trapped in the castle walls behind wire mesh and left to die.

The bird was first seen on Saturday, November 13, holed up in a gap in the brickwork above the Union Road entrance.

The wire mesh had been installed by Stone Technical Services.

The Darlington-based company was employed to place the mesh over the walls to prevent brickwork coming loose during repairs.

After reading the report in the Echo, animal rescuer Karen Fletcher, 58, contacted Lincoln Castle to find out what was going to be done to free the pigeon.

She discovered staff from Stone Technical Services were set to drive more than 120 miles on Saturday morning to try to rescue the bird.

But when they arrived, they discovered the pigeon was gone.

Now, Mrs Fletcher, of Witham St Hughes, is looking for answers as to how the pigeon could have disappeared.

She said: "I got to the castle entrance on Saturday morning to wait for Stone Technical Services.

"But when I arrived, the gates opened and the workers came out. They had already been inside the castle to try to carry out the rescue.

"They told me there was no sign of the pigeon and that it had disappeared. They even went to the top of the castle and abseiled down the walls to check the other holes, but they still couldn't find it.

"There's a theory there must be another way in and out of the castle walls.

"I want to know why it took so long for action to be taken. Thankfully, Stone Technical Services agreed to come down and search the walls at no extra charge. But there could have been a dead bird on everyone's hands.

"Under the animal welfare bill, whoever is in charge of Lincoln Castle has a duty to look after all birds and animals on the grounds – domestic or otherwise.

"People might call pigeons vermin, but they're not destroying the planet. Besides, birds were around long before the castle was built.

"Even vermin have a right to die humanely rather than being trapped and abandoned."

Pete Simpson, 62, first reported the trapped pigeon last week.

"I have my suspicions they found the pigeon and they've removed it behind closed gates," said Mr Simpson, of Francis Street, off Newport, Lincoln.

"I went down to the castle yesterday and I could see the wire mesh over the hole had been tampered with. Something just doesn't add up.

"If it was dead or alive, we just don't know, but someone must have taken it out. It would have been impossible for it to get out on its own."

Lincoln Castle was unable to comment.

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