A Lyme Regis couple under siege from nesting seagulls were told by officials to stay out of their own garden for two months.

Ian Dicks and Margaret Chamberlain have had to resort to protecting themselves with umbrellas and cycle helmets when they venture outside.

The gulls have been nesting on the roof of a studio at their home in Sherborne Lane and attacking every time they step into the garden.

The couple said they are ‘stunned’ that the local councils have no contingency plan for dealing with aggressive seagulls or controlling their numbers.

They were even more shocked to be told by officials at Natural England not to go out into their garden for at least six weeks until the chicks have flown.

Mr Dicks, 57, said: “It was quite shocking to me when I found out the answer was to just stay out of the garden for two months.

“When you start realising they’ve got more rights than you and you can’t do anything in your own garden, it’s very annoying.”

“I’ve been stunned that both West Dorset and Lyme councils have been more than useless with no contingency plans whatsoever, if anything the bias is towards the bird.”

But Natural England denies giving the advice to the couple.

Wildlife adviser Justin Evans said: “We have checked all our records and no wildlife adviser from Natural England has given advice to the couple on nesting gulls.”

West Dorset District Council’s principal environmental protection officer Jeanette Guy said: “West Dorset District Council’s pest control service does not treat birds of any kind.

“As such, we would advise residents in these particular circumstances to contact Natural England for information about what action they may legally take, or alternatively, contact a specialist pest control organisation.”

Mark Gage, chairman of the town council’s Strategy and Policy Committee, said: “The town council is aware of the nuisance that seagulls can cause to residents and visitors alike, and understands the particular difficulties that some homeowners face when gulls nest on their property.”

He added: “Any action that the council takes will, however have to take account of the fact that neither Lyme Regis Town Council or West Dorset District Council actually have any legal powers or responsibilities for the control of gulls.”

Mr Dicks fears it will take a serious accident before the authorities act. He said: “I’ve nothing against gulls but when you’re dive-bombed by a sharp beaked scavenger then it’s amazing how that attitude changes.

“The awful thing is some little child is going to get really badly hurt and then there will be an over-reaction.”

Mr Dicks and Mrs Chamberlain, who are both illustrators, have always had nests on their roof but never experienced any aggression before.

“You hear more and more stories of people being injured by them,” said Mr Dicks. “I’ve been up on the roof with an umbrella and cycle helmet fighting off seagulls and trying to clear the downpipes.