Newquay calls in the Seagull Terminator!

[T_i_B]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/article302717.ece

Silently, with an airgun over one shoulder, the hitman climbed up a ladder towards the roof of the house. The tormentor fixed in the gun sight, the marksman slowly squeezed the trigger. A body, minus its head, dropped to the lawn.

This scene in Newquay last week is being repeated in gardens up and down the country as people take up arms to protect themselves from seagulls. Once a cheerful reminder of seaside holidays, the birds increasingly think nothing of attacking humans and drawing blood.

But now residents of gull-infested towns have had enough. Unable to sleep because of ear-piercing dawn squawks, too terrified to sit in their own gardens while having lunch and frightened for the safety of their children, they have decided to take action. Sick of what they see as inaction by their local councils they are either mounting their roofs armed with an airgun or asking someone else to do the honours.

Richard Segar, 52, who owns a roofing company in Newquay, has shot problem gulls for both homeowners and business people. "I'm not acting as a vigilante. I'm only acting to protect my employees because we're getting more and more aggressive attacks," he said. "They can strike you on the top of your head and they'll shit on you. If a bird is there and we can't work on the roof I have to shoot it and if there are eggs there or a nest I will take it off the roof. How else do I deal with it? I can't catch them. I'm a big guy and I find them scary."

[KG]

1. the birds!