And for that they are thankful.

For instead of flying hundreds of miles across seas and mountains, they always get to stay at home in Knutsford - to have sex.

"Their main purpose in life is to procreate and all the others are jealous of them for that," said owner Ernie Richards.

Other homing pigeons at the lofts in Mereheath Lane meet only on race day - once a week - to make them fly back to Knutsford even faster.

But for Ernie's star birds there is only one thing on their mind and it isn't clocking up a record time.

"It's the start of the breeding season if the weather changes, but it's not very good sitting on a nest when it is this cold," said Ernie, 78, of Mansion Drive.

"The pigeons in sheltered accommodation will carry on at any time as long as there is no cold air."

Ernie's golden couple were hand-picked because of their winning pedigree and he hopes they will produce some winners.

If a star is born, it will be reared on the best corn - and vitamins.

In an increasingly competitive sport, pigeon fanciers take off to such far-flung destinations as the Pyrenees to set their birds free.

With £500 prize money and cars at stake in some of the bigger races, Ernie said some pigeon fanciers had turned to drugs to get the best from their birds.

"They have introduced blood tests to check for drugs if you are doing too well," he said.

"It is usually something you put in the water with a long-sounding name.

"There is no point to drugs, but where there is money involved it happens these days."

Anyone caught out would be suspended by the Royal Pigeon Association and fined £60.

The days of drug cheats, though, were just a thing of the future when pigeon racing took off in Knutsford about 100 years ago.

Now it seems Knutsford Flying Club is now a dying breed with only 12 members.

They love their sport and Ernie believes the birds are happy enough as well.

"Our pigeons have a good life and only eat the best corn and vitamins," he said.