Andy Myles: "Very worried"

Speaking on BBC Reporting Scotland, RSPB officer Andy Myles said the society had struggled to get an explanation from the executive.

He said: "We keep a track of the government issuing licences to kill wild birds under the law.

"We have noticed a dramatic rise in the figures from two licences to kill robins in 1990 to 22 to kill robins in 1999.

"Now we are very worried and very mystified by this and have been asking over recent weeks for information on robins and why these licences are being issued."

'Hygiene threat'

The society is speculating that the birds have been shot because they pose some kind of hygiene threat.

But it argues that if this is the case, the robins should be trapped and released back into the wild.

On Tuesday the Scottish Executive issued a statement saying the licences were issued to food premises on hygiene grounds as an emergency last resort.

A spokesman said: "The RSPB approached us before Christmas seeking clarification on this matter and we are in the process of getting this information for them.

"It is disappointing that they have issued a news release to get some cheap publicity."