More than 25 tonnes of foul-smelling pigeon poo has been removed from an ancient English monument.
A three-foot deep "massive mushy mess" compared to a giant chocolate cake was cleaned out of the 14th century Landgate Arch in East Sussex this week.
Environmental health experts said the "acidic" poo could have caused lasting structural damage to stonework had it been cleared from the historic towers.
Mike Walker, managing director for CountyClean Environmental Services said: “Whilst we’ve removed other massive blockages such giant fatbergs in sewers, we have never seen such a monumental mass of festering faeces before.”
“The build-up behind the doors was so big we had to force the doors open.
"Once inside, it was like walking on a giant chocolate cake and the smell was awful – even through a facemask.”
“The floors of the towers and the steps leading to the top were swamped with 25 tonnes of poo. We filled our tanker several times over."
The cleaners used had to use a custom built machine that combines high-pressure jetting with powerful suction.
Rother District Council, which owns the 1340 monument, discovered the unhygienic mess.
