Now you risk £500 fine for feeding Trafalgar Square pigeons

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But, from today, anyone caught feeding the pigeons could face a £500 fine.

The outright ban was brought in by council chiefs who have mounted a determined campaign to force out bird-lovers who have been exploiting a loophole in the law.

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Facing a fine: Feeding the birds could be very expensive

Teams of officials took to the streets at dawn, armed with the power to fine anyone caught feeding the birds.

The move by Westminster council marks the most concerted effort yet to rid the square of pigeons, seen as a nuisance and health hazard.

Mayor Ken Livingstone banned pigeon-feeding in Trafalgar Square in 2003.

However, pigeon lovers and animal-rights groups were able to get round the ban because it did not include the pedestrianised North Terrace, which falls under the jurisdiction of Westminster.

A handful of activists have since used this loophole to continue to throw bags of crumbs to hundreds of birds.

Now Westminster has secured a by-law banning the feeding on the North Terrace, where an estimated 400 pigeons flock.

The ban applies to the entire perimeter of the square, the area around St Martin-in-the-Fields church, the space directly in front of the National Gallery, Canada House, and South Africa House, and parts of The Mall, Charing Cross Road and Strand.

Anyone who defies the ban faces prosecution and a fine of up to £500.

Westminster said it was forced to act after pigeon enthusiasts often turned up with up to 20kg of feed at a time.

Alan Bradley, cabinet member for street environment, said: "We are pleased this legal loophole has been closed. We clean the North Terrace several times a day but the pigeons, attracted by the food, leave a significant amount of droppings."

Pigeon free-zone: Trafalgar Square