Heroic pigeons to fill Trafalgar plinth

Britain's feathered flying heroes of World War II are to be permanently remembered in Trafalgar Square by filling the much-debated empty plinth

A fifteen-foot iron-cast of a pigeon will be erected in memory of thirty-two birds, who in 1945 were awarded the coveted Dicken Medal, the animal 'VC', after defying German falcons to deliver messages to the French Resistance.

The Pigeon on the Plinth project is a result of a campaign by the Pigeon Action Group (PAG), which has relentlessly campaigned to have the role of the Royal Homing Pigeon Service, honoured in the capital.

Major Legge-Puller, PAG chairman, said: "It's wonderful news that these fine fighting heroes will stand wing-to-shoulder in Trafalgar Square with the great Lord Nelson."

The statue, which will cost the taxpayer an estimated £240,00, received the full support of London MPs at a late night sitting in the House of Commons on Thursday. It finally brings to an end the debate over what should fill the square's north-west plinth, which has already seen designs submitted of a car covered with bird droppings and a pigeon hotel.

Actor Ewan McGregor, star of animated film Valiant, which celebrates the winged heroes, has been asked to unveil the statue once it is completed, but Mayor Ken Livingstone is not expected to attend. Mr Livingstone outraged PAG two years ago, when he hired a Harris hawk at a cost of £106,000 to cull Trafalgar Square's 5,000 pigeons after branding them a health hazard.

The London based designers of the artwork have assured Mr Livingstone that the statue does not come complete with giant pigeon droppings.