PIGEONS may not be everyone's favourite birds - but racing these intelligent creatures with their remarkable homing instinct has been a popular pastime for generations.

PIGEONS may not be everyone's favourite birds - but racing these intelligent creatures with their remarkable homing instinct has been a popular pastime for generations.

And it is quite appalling that anyone should think it is amusing to shoot Mervyn Johnson's racing pigeons.

Feral pigeons in town centres can be pests - but these are not shot as councils seek other ways of controlling their numbers.

But racing pigeons are another matter altogether. They are easily identified as someone's pet by the rings on their feet and they are also much more tame than wild birds.

Whoever has been responsible for these dreadful shootings needs to be identified and stopped. It is worrying that there are yobs in Ipswich with access to weapons that are able to inflict such suffering.

It is bad enough that they are taking pot-shots at tame pigeons - but there is also the fear that they will see other creatures as targets as well.

There is no excuse for inflicting such misery on someone merely pursuing his hobby, and all right-thinking people will be hoping that the yobs are quickly identified and are given an appropriate punishment.

TURNING Felixstowe back into the Spa of the East which first drew visitors during the Victorian era may seem an unlikely way of attracting the 21st century's tourists - but it might be worth considering in a mix of attractions to take the town forward.

Most people have probably forgotten about the spa waters which used to flow down the cliffs - although the name of the town's largest theatre really should give everyone a constant reminder!

It is unlikely that, with one of the country's largest ports just a couple of miles away and the seafront emphasis on 20th century attractions, the town could ever truly return to the days when a trip to Felixstowe would be mainly to sample the spa waters.

However today's resorts need a mixture of attractions to pull in the crowds throughout the year.

And there is no reason why the resort should not look back to its past in the mix of facilities it can offer visitors.

SCHOOLS may now be on the last leg of the academic year, but they have the chance to earn themselves a bit more cash with the relaunch of The Evening Star's cash for schools programme.

Every school that takes part in the programme is guaranteed a £50 bonus, and there are prizes of up to £2,000 for those who collect the most tokens over the next few weeks.

The scheme is being run in association with Barclays Bank to boost its links with the communities it serves.

And the money raised can be used for any school project - however large or small it is. So start collecting the tokens in tonight's paper, and support your local school.