THE GOLD star treatment is being given to an injured pigeon at the Horwich-based Wildlife Hospital North West.

The young pigeon was taken in with a damaged upper beak which has since fallen off and is to be replaced with a false one - made in gold!

The bird is unable to feed because it cannot hold anything in its beak and, left alone, would starve to death.

But local dental technician Robert Brown, whose wife Lesley works at the hospital in Vale Avenue, has agreed to help and fit a replacement beak.

The operation, compared to fitting a crown on a human tooth, is likely to take some time. An impression will have to be taken of the bird's beak and a new one made up then fitted with dental cement.

Lesley said that various synthetic materials, such as porcelain, had been considered for the beak, but these would be liable to crack, and acrylic could be harmful to the bird.

"It was decided that gold, probably white gold, which is tougher than yellow gold and less expensive, would be the most suitable," said Lesley.

"Pigeons tend to peck a lot at the pavement, and other synthetic materials would fracture."

The priceless pigeon will probably begin its treatment next week and, once the surgery is complete, it will remain at the hospital for another 12 months before being released.

Robert, who runs Lynx Dental Laboratories in Horwich, said it is the most unusual request he has had, although a few years ago he made a false tooth for a show dog.

"I am going to have to start looking very closely at pigeons," he said.

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