School staff in South Staffordshire face a race against time to save a field from a flock of 150 geese which have set up home there.

An emergency meeting at Perton First School heard how the birds will become “flightless” for at least six months if they are not moved on from its field within a month.

Experts from South Staffordshire Council and a bird control company met to talk about solutions to the infestation of Canada geese which are preventing the children from playing football. The geese have moved away from their original spot at neighbouring Upper Lake and settled on the school grounds.

An estimated 200 to 400 eggs are laid on the island in the middle of the lake during spring, all of which have to be cleared up by the council.

The authority has already spent £140,000 on improvements to Upper Lake to prevent the area being damaged by flocks of geese.

The meeting, at the Manston Drive school last night, heard how the birds need to be made to leave soon or they will stay indefinitely.

Teacher Christine Hopkins said children refuse to head the ball during games because of the mess left on the ground by the geese.

Staff have already tried flying yellow ribbons and wearing yellow high-visibility vests because the geese are afraid of the colour.

Site supervisor Mick Evans said he had taken a dog onto the site during the holidays but the birds just circle around and land again. Graham Reece from NBC Bird Solutions said: “The birds will quickly get used to that and realise they are in no danger.

“Only using dogs, which they see as a predator, will get them to leave. They have to believe they would be in danger if they land there.

“Unless something is done by March they will become flightless and they won’t go anywhere.”

Howard Medlicott, landscaping manager for South Staffordshire Council, said he would arrange for signs to be put up the lake encouraging people not to feed the geese.