An unlucky driver faces paying a hefty fine after a cheeky seagull stole a parking ticket left on the windscreen of their car.
The bird swiped the ticket from the motor in Brighton and flew off, leaving the driver completely unaware.
The crafty gull was caught in the act by James Earley, 55, who could not resist taking a couple of pictures of the bird in action.
The insurance broker said: “I expected it to fly off when I tried to take a photo but it just ignored me and was determined to get the ticket. I wonder what he did with it afterwards?
“Poor driver won’t know until they get a reminder through the post.”
In one picture, the bird can be seen standing on the bonnet of a white car pecking at a parking notice wedged underneath the windscreen wiper.
Later images show the gull successfully removing the charge notice from the vehicle.
Parking tickets in Brighton and Hove generally cost between £50 and £70, which can be halved if paid within 14 days.
However, it looks like a reduced fine isn't an option for the driver of this car as the bird made off with the evidence.
James posted the photos to a local Facebook group in an attempt to trace the owner of the car.
He wrote: "Seagull taking a parking ticket from a car in Kemptown this afternoon. Someone will get a nasty surprise through the post in a few weeks time.”
James' Facebook post caused residents to joke about the bird's sinister plan to stitch up the unaware motorist.
Christina Beyer wrote: “I would like to think the seagull had good intentions taking it in order to prevent the car owner from penalties.
“But then again it is a seagull so that might be wishful thinking.”
Another added: “He has reported back and will be around the same area tomorrow.”
Earlier this month another seagull made the news when it stole a hamburger out of a man’s hands as he was eating in Dublin.
The gull dived down and landed on the unsuspecting diner’s shoulder before grabbing his dinner and flying off.
He said: “I was hungry so I was walking down Grafton Street and I figured ‘I’ll just grab a burger.
“I went in [to McDonalds] and got it and as I walked out I had my phone in one hand and unwrapped the burger in the other. The second I took the wrapper off, something hit me on my shoulder.
“I thought I was getting mugged or something and I thought, ‘Oh god, they’re going to take my phone’, and then the burger just disappeared.
“The gull came down, put his legs on my shoulder just to perch, grabbed it, took it to the ground and about 20 other gulls came down and started ripping it apart.
“I was just standing there with half a bun left in my hand.”
