TIGHT-FISTED twitchers have been criticised by their peers after upsetting a fundraiser whose garden became a refuge for eye-catching birds that strayed thousands of miles from Asia.

Pamela Bell wanted to share her pleasure after the thrill of discovering two rose-coloured starlings in trees outside her home - and saw it as an opportunity to boost her community campaign.

So she opened her garden to birdwatchers for views of the pink and black-plumaged visitors - and in return invited twitchers to contribute to local efforts to raise money for a much-needed bus shelter.

Birdwatchers duly flocked to her home in the village of Runswick Bay, near Whitby, North Yorkshire.

But when it came to paying for their delight, some were not so keen.

Several made excuses that they had forgotten to bring any money - others refused point blank when invited to make donations by Mrs Bell, who also offered them coffee and home-baked cakes.

"At one point there were as many as 33 people on my patio looking at the birds, but at the end of it all I collected only £16.50 - £5 of which was from one photographer," said the 72-year-old widow.

"It left me hopping mad. They had enjoyed seeing the birds and I went to some trouble to accommodate them, yet some could not be bothered to put even a few pence in my collection box."

News of the starlings and the arrangements for seeing them were broadcast by the BirdGuides Online rarity information service, which criticised the twitchers who snubbed Mrs Bell.

Russell Slack, of the Sheffield-based service, said in his Review of the Week, circulated to subscribers: "Her impression of birdwatchers is now tarnished forever."

Anyone wanting to help the bus shelter fund is asked to make cheques payable to Pamela Bell and send them to BirdGuides, Jack House, Ewden Valley, Sheffield, S36 4ZA.