People in a seaside town are being subjected to a reign of terror by vicious seagulls who are making life miserable for holidaymakers and locals alike.
Locals and tourists in the popular seaside resort have blasted “burly” seagulls attacking members of the public and scattering rubbish through the streets.
Those in the charming holiday town of Torquay said they were at their wits’ end with attacks, brawls and food stolen from people’s hands.
Devon Live spoke to people in the town who reported being attacked, mugged and pooed on by the gulls.
Resident Suzanne Collins however was not a fan, saying: “I don't like them. They rip rubbish open and they attack people. They're just vermin basically. The rats are probably kinder than the seagulls are."
She added: “It was like a rubbish tip on Tuesday morning in my lane. One of the seagulls was actually dragging this rubbish bag across the road. They're strong."
Seagulls, like all wild birds and their nests in the UK, are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but some disapprove of the law.
“They're protected and I just can't see why,” she said. “They kill badgers and every single year they breed and breed and there's just thousands more born every year.
"They cause people a lot of trouble. If you don't watch your food they just pinch it out your hand. They're just horrible. They fight each other as well."
Suzanne said a seagull had cut her daughter Sophie's hand when she had given her a pasty when she was little. She also said a friend who had done rewiring on a roof had been attacked and ended up with his head cut open after he had happened upon a nest in the roof.
Local resident Emma Kerby described the gulls’ reign of terror over other birds, saying: “When I took my son to the duck pond we were feeding the ducks and the seagulls come and nick the food!"
She also said a seagull had been stuck on a roof in the harbour, which was rescued by no less than two fire engines. Both Emma and Suzanne agreed it was a waste of public money.
Suzanne and Emma both like animals, Suzanne said: "We're animal lovers but we just can't abide them in summer. You can't sit at the harbour and eat fish and chips. No chance, it would be gone."
Pauline Harvey who runs an ice cream shop on Torquay harbour front said she had seen the gulls “biting people” and stealing their food.
She said: "I don't want to harm them but there's nothing I can do, you've just got to accept it. But they're getting so bad that they're biting people and snatching things out their hands."
