PIGEON Close may sound like the perfect home for a flock, but 65 of the feathered creatures have been evicted from the address along with their owner, and their future is now up in the air.

Dedicated pigeon racer Garry Riley is vowing to sleep in his van near his former home in Blandford in order to feed his beloved collection of birds, hens and chicks, until he knows their fate.

Garry and his sister Susan Hanscomb were yesterday evicted from the Signpost Housing Association property after living at the three-bedroom house for more than 20 years.

Garry, 45, said: "I've been keeping racing pigeons on and off for the past 15 years and they mean everything to me. They give me something to do because I cannot work."

He says he receives incapacity benefit due to a medical condition whereby blood flow is restricted in his legs and he cannot stand or walk for long periods.

"I've been offered a B&B in Bournemouth but it's no good because I need somewhere for my birds," he said.

"I have no idea what to do."

Andrew Heath, housing services manager for Signpost Housing Association, said: "Signpost has successfully taken possession action against a tenant in Pigeon Close for repeatedly breaching the terms of their tenancy agreement.

"The serious breaches of the tenancy involved non-payment of rent, failing to allow access to the property to carry out essential gas servicing, failing to remove domestic animals from the property for which no permission was given and allowing the property to fall into severe disrepair.

"When the eviction was carried out the tenant had failed to clear their belongings from the property and left two pigeon coops, along with all of the pigeons in the garden.

"The property was cleared and Signpost has contacted an animal welfare organisation to take care of the pigeons."