MAYOR of London Ken Livingstone has urged tourists and residents to stop feeding pigeons in the capital to reduce the potential of spreading bird flu in Britain.

Meanwhile, the Tower of London have decided to keep their famous ravens indoors to protect them from the disease, which is quickly spreading across Europe.

Mr Livingstone said: "There is no documented specific threat in Britain at this present time and therefore there is no cause for immediate alarm, but we also have to take all prudent steps to ensure that we do not do anything to encourage or assist diseases spreading.

"Many of London's spaces have very large numbers of feral pigeons, leading in some cases to unpleasant amounts of bird faeces, a problem that needs to go up our agenda.

"As a prudent step to discourage the spread of any germs and diseases, not just Avian flu, it makes sense to minimise contact with feral pigeons, which are the bird most in contact with humans in London and which are known already to carry many diseases."

London's wild pigeons, particularly at Trafalgar Square, are famous the world over.

A spokesman for the Tower told Reuters that six ravens had been moved from lawns outside the 11th century castle into specially built cages in one of its towers.

"Although we don't like having to bring the Tower ravens inside, we believe it is the safest thing to do for their own protection, given the speed that the virus is moving across Europe," said Raven Master Derrick Coyle.

"We are taking advice on the vaccinations against Avian Flu, and in the meantime, we will continue to give our six ravens as much care and attention as they need."