"AS we mourn the victims of the First World War, let us also remember the countless brave birds who served with our Allied forces, crossing battle lines and delivering vital messages and were shot down in a human-made war.

Today, most despicably, pigeons continue to be subjected to the same perilous journey across the English Channel – but for nothing more than a lark and a bet.

These birds, awarded more Dickin Medals (the animal VC) than any other animals, are being killed in pointless races across Europe. A People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals investigation into top British pigeon racing organisations revealed the deaths of tens of thousands every year."