VILLAGERS are furious that a watercress farm company has secured a licence to shoot and kill birds including ducks.

The Watercress Company says the pest control is important to protect beds on Bedfield Lane, at Springvale, near Winchester.

Neighbour Sandy Whorwood said she challenged a man with a gun on the beds near her home in Headbourne Worthy.

She said: "I was incensed. The company got themselves a licence earlier this month to kill everything that lands, ducks, even if they have got ducklings.

"It is not acceptable, there is a public footpath, gardens, with livestock, a farm shop nearby. When I saw the man with a gun I yelled at him and told him to go away and he has gone."

Tom Amery, managing director of the firm, told the Chronicle that the control was needed because bird dropping could contaminate the watercress.

The necessary licence had been obtained from Natural England.

Mr Amery said many methods were used including fencing, bird scarers, netting, laser tools, killing any animal was a last resort, and added: "We are not killing mother ducks."

"We have not killed any birds at Springvale. We have employed the services of a skilled team for many years and this is not something new. Fortunately the problem is diminishing but still at a level that requires control."

In an email to the parish council, Mr Amery said: "I can assure you we don’t plan to totally eradicate any species, just any specific pest species that are not-permitted and persistent and more importantly that have not responded the steps of “exclusion” and “disturbance” and pose a risk to consumers due to food safety concerns. I can assure you killing any animal is the very last resort particularly if it is not for consumption."

The issue was raised at Headbourne Worthy Parish Council and the meeting resolved to point out their "revulsion and distaste at this despicable action".

In an email to Mr Amery, Harry Whorwood, chairman of the parish council, and Sandy's husband, wrote: "Apart from harming your existing harmonious relations with the community, and damaging your conservation record with your major supermarket customers, a gunman shooting in a residential area with footpaths, a busy farm shop, horses in fields, domestic garden pets, and pedestrians using the surrounding pavements is a danger to public health.

"I have been further instructed to take the matter up with the police and Winchester City Council to ensure that the safety of both the wildlife and public is maintained.

"Whilst we appreciate that you are a farming business, there is still unease at your proposed pest control plan and the effect of this on wildlife; and concern that total eradication is both impractical and unachievable."