Ealing Council has been urged to refund a lifelong Hanwell resident who says she feels "gutted" after it fined her £80 for feeding pigeons.

The 71-year-old, who requested not to be named, was stunned when enforcement officers fined her for littering in Haven Green.

She said she was tearing off a few crumbs to feed pigeons by a tree on December 15 last year.

The retired journalist, who has lived in Hanwell for 69 years, said: "I put the crumbs down the base of a tree over the far side.

An elderly woman was fined £80 after she claimed she was feeding birds in Haven Green. (Credit: Google).

"They said to me do you know it is against the law what you have done. I said no absolutely not.

"They went on to say that they would take my details and my name.

"They said it (the fine) would be because I had put down bread and turned my back and walked away.

"I felt absolutely gutted. If I had thrown down a paper bag or anything like that I could understand it, but a hand full of small crumbs that the pigeons instantly came to eat just doesn't make any sense to me at all.

"I am passionate about animals and birds and some time they look so miserable and hungry.

"I have been doing that (feeding birds) for six years. I feel really sad about it."

The woman paid the fine within a few days after the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) was issued.

Conservative Cllr David Millican has called on the Labour-run council to refund the fine, arguing its efforts should be been directed elsewhere.

Cllr Millican had written to the council last week but has not yet had a response, although the council said his request is being dealt with.

He said: "I have asked for them to look into it to see what was involved

"I would much prefer they spend their time sorting out fly tipping.

"I have asked them to examine it."

A council spokesperson added: “Pigeons are pests and it’s been an offence to feed them since the 1981 Environment Act.

"Pigeons impact on residents’ enjoyment of our parks and open spaces and cleaning up after these birds costs the council dearly.

“In this case an FPN was issued in line with the council’s policy on fining those caught dropping litter on the borough’s streets.

"We have not received a complaint but have examined video footage of this case and found that officers acted appropriately and according to policy.”

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