A rogue pigeon gave a Sidmouth man a surprise after breaking into a local radio station.

Stuart Hughes, who is a district and county council councillor as well as a radio presenter, had a bit of a shock when he turned up for a show at the Yeovil radio studio.

Stuart arrived for his Sunday show, on Radio Ninesprings 104.5 FM, to find a pigeon had beaten him to the microphone.

Stuart – who presents the ‘Huggy Hughes Show’ from 9am to midday every Sunday – was confronted by the uninvited guest just minutes before going live with his regular slot.

In the hot weather, the radio station has been leaving a studio window slightly ajar but it seems the open window was the opportunity for the curious pigeon to enter and show he too was worth a flutter as a radio presenter.

Stuart said: “When I opened the studio door, I found this pigeon sitting in my chair and not wanting to budge.

“It was as though the bird quite fancied being a radio jock.

“Perhaps I should have opened the microphone, given it some headphones and songs to play?

“But no doubt it would have wanted his own songs – Come Fly with Me and Up Up and Away, maybe.

“Luckily, the pigeon didn’t dive-bomb the equipment and after opening the window a touch further, he was gone in a single swoop.”

Radio Ninesprings’ station manager Steve Haigh added: “Radio Ninesprings is closely associated with pigeons as it was a pigeon that launched the station in 2018 flying to the corners of South Somerset with a message saying Radio Ninesprings could be heard on 104.5 FM.

“I’m left wondering if this was the same pigeon that just popped back to say hello?

“As to him becoming a regular jock – well, provided there’s no Pigeon English, then we might just consider making him one of the team.”

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