Stafford pigeon fanciers are delighted that a ban on racing from Western Europe is to be lifted.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has announced the restriction imposed during the bird flu scare last month will be removed from April 1.

The secretary of Stafford and District Homing Society, Stan Stopka, who has 100 pigeons of his own, said: “It is good news for everyone in the sport.

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Stafford pigeon fanciers are delighted that a ban on racing from Western Europe is to be lifted.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has announced the restriction imposed during the bird flu scare last month will be removed from April 1.

The secretary of Stafford and District Homing Society, Stan Stopka, who has 100 pigeons of his own, said: “It is good news for everyone in the sport.”

“The ban would have devastated our season as all the classic races are cross-Channel.”

The end of the high risk autumn migration and over wintering period and the absence of evidence of disease in wild bird in Europe has led to a revised veterinary risk assessment.

Pigeon racing from Europe will still be subject to existing conditions on notifying in advance, record keeping and biosecurity.

There will be a requirement for all returning birds to be kept in isolation from other birds for seven days.

There were fears that many fanciers could scale back breeding programmes if the ban on racing lasted until the start of the season in April, causing cashflow problems for clubs.

The Royal Pigeon Racing Association said last month a number of clubs were hit financially last year when continental racing was halted because of bird flu fears.

Training starts in March and Stafford and District Homing Society will be holding its first race on April 14 from Cheltenham.

It also has a continental race planned for May 21.

The club has been going for more than a century and has around 40 members in the area.

Many are also members of the town’s other pigeon club – Stafford Racing Pigeon Club.