LONDON residents are being urged to help save their much-loved cockney sparrow from dying out.

Results from the world's largest count of birds, the Big Garden Birdwatch, have revealed that sparrows are under threat while the song thrush has also fallen from the top 20.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has called on local nature-lovers to help the house sparrow and other garden birds that face uncertain futures.

Thousands of people across the country took part in the study, recording the birds they spotted in their gardens.

Andrew South of the RSPB's London project team said: "In Waltham Forest the house sparrow is still at number two in the top ten, but population sizes have dropped by more than half over the past two decades. That is a very worrying trend in conservation terms.

"The cockney sparrow is as much a part of our city as St Paul's cathedral, EastEnders and the London Eye. We are conducting a major study into the reasons for its decline."

Possible causes are pollution, lack of nesting spaces and increased use of pesticides in gardens.

Mr South said: "Sparrows are having trouble nesting. People tend to be less tolerant of leaving nooks and crannies under the house eaves and many modern buildings have plastic casings around the roof.

"House sparrows, as their name suggests, have lived happily with people for many years. It would be a shame to lose that relationship."

To help encourage the birds to thrive, residents can fit nesting boxes, and allow a small part of their gardens to grow wild.

"Sparrows feed on seeds but when they are a few days old they need a massive protein injection and have to eat lots of insects. Leaving a corner of your garden a bit wild helps to provide the birds with undergrowth to forage in for seeds and also encourages the insects," Mr South said.

Although it was bad news for sparrows and starlings, the future is looking brighter for some other birds in the top ten including blue tits, collared doves and blackbirds.

Waltham Forest residents also spotted a range of interesting visitors, including the long tailed tit, great-spotted woodpecker and goldfinches.

Mr South said: "We recommend that people get into the habit of regularly feeding the birds all year round. It's important for the birds to have a reliable and regular habit with feeding."

Advice on nesting boxes and feeding is available on the RSPB's website at www.rspb.org.uk