Rocks thrown at Lyme Regis seagulls as problems grow

A Lyme Regis resident says the ‘ongoing seagull issue’ in the town is growing.

The worried resident visited the beach with her husband over the weekend when the pair witnessed ‘seagulls just zooming down and stealing food and ice cream from children and adults', she said. 

People being swooped on by seagulls in Lyme Regis (Image: Supplied)

She said: “You can’t eat properly. You can’t have a picnic on the beach. I have never been anywhere that seagulls have been as big a problem as they are in Lyme Regis.

“I think that it has just been allowed to happen and it’s not good for Lyme Regis. It’s a situation that’s growing and it’s not a pleasant one.

“They are quite frightening. They look quite ugly and they are big.”

If you look closely you can see a chip in one of the bird's mouths (Image: Supplied)

The resident explained that the seagull situation in the town has grown so bad that people ‘were throwing stones at them to keep them away.’

Like all wild birds, gulls, their chicks and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

This means it's illegal to intentionally kill, take or injure gulls, take or destroy their eggs, or damage or destroy any gull nests while they're in use or being built - unless you're acting under licence.

As reported by the News, a young Swedish visitor to Lyme Regis was eating a croissant when a seagull swooped down and cut her hand with its beak, resulting in a trip to A&E for a tetanus shot.

People being swooped on by seagulls in Lyme Regis (Image: Supplied)

The resident believes that more action needs to be taken to prevent the birds from swooping and injuring more people.

She said: “When I was on holiday in Madeira, they had a person there with a falcon and just being there with it was a deterrent, but I am sure that there are other things that can be done – I used to love the sound of seagulls.”

Lyme Regis Town Council has confirmed that it is it is ‘very aware of the seagull issue’ and over the years tried a number of methods to deter the birds and make people aware of the dangers.

This has included, like the resident suggested, bringing in birds of prey, flying a drone, issuing advice leaflets to residents, installing signs on the seafront warning people of seagull thieves, and introducing bins on the seafront which make it harder for gulls to pull waste from them.

People being swooped on by seagulls in Lyme Regis (Image: Supplied)

Additionally, the council also has two enforcement officers who are authorised to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £100 to anyone who intentionally feeds seagulls.