"Long live the parrots" was the cry from the streets of Dalton-in-Furness this week as councillors met to decide if they should ban the free-flying birds from Furness skies.

The collection of colourful South American macaws and patagonian conures has been allowed to come and go as they please from their enclosure at the town's South Lakes Wild Animal Park for the past ten years.

But now Barrow Borough Council, the authority charged with licensing the animal park, could ground them following a number of complaints over their loud squawking and damage to roofs, gutters and gardens.

In advance of yesterday's (Thursday) licensing committee meeting, feelings were running high in Dalton, where a street sample found nine parrot backers and one opponent.

"They're a symbol of Dalton," enthused John Metcalfe, of the Full Octave music shop. "Long live the parrots! We have very little to sell our town, if we have a few parrots around, the more's the better."

Yet the licensing committee will have to consider serious concerns raised by English Nature.

In a letter prompted by parrot-opponent Coun John Murphy, species conservation officer Corrie Bruemmer points out that non-native species like grey squirrels and minks have caused many ecological and economic problems in the past.

She believes it is illegal to allow a non-native species like the macaws to leave the boundaries of the zoo under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

"We don't know whether the macaws would always return to the zoo or whether they might not at some point start breeding in the wild," she wrote. "Judging by past experiences, this is a risk that should not be taken."

But zoo boss David Gill argues that the practice is legal since the birds are not being released into the wild' because they regularly return to the park. He says they are not able to reproduce or feed themselves sufficiently in the wild.

The birds are trained to return to the aviary, he says, a practice that is no different from free-flying owl or eagle displays.

Zoo manager Roy Pirie said the parrots did no harm and more people said they liked them than did not.

"What would you rather have flying about, our parrots who are looked after by vets all the time, are constantly monitored, have the very best food, or seagulls and pigeons which scavenge on the tip?"

Pro-parrot resident and Dalton butcher Tom Hird said he would rather have the macaws. He argued it was hypocritical to worry about a few parrots possibly spreading disease when most people did not care about a pigeon infestation some years ago in the town's then unoccupied old police station.

"We have five or six parrots flying around which brings a bit of colour to the area and people are up in arms. It stinks!"

Ryan Murray, 17, whose roof is graced by the bird's presence in the morning, called them an "unusual attraction" while street sweeper Stephen Glew said they were "great".

"I see them every day. They don't seem to bother other birds," he said.

Yvone Eayers, 32, said both her and her three-year-old son Oliver loved to see the "brilliant" parrots. "How many children his age can look out of the bedroom window and see them? They should be free to fly about!"

Councillors are being recommended to seek a compromise by an official zoo inspector. A management plan would demand Mr Gill count the birds in at the end of the day, alter feeding to ensure they return at night and persuade the public not to feed the birds. If complaints continue Mr Gill would be instructed to keep the parrots locked up.