A CONTROVERSIAL suggestion has been made to CULL Worcester's seagulls - with a councillor saying it could help solve the pest problem.

Councillor Chris Mitchell says the idea of culling the birds should be considered as part of a big investigation into Worcester's gull population.

The call comes after several incidents of seagulls plaguing people in Worcester with one woman being bit, another getting a bird tangled in her hair and reports of them dive-bombing children in St John's.

Cllr Mitchell, a former deputy leader of Worcester City Council, said: "If seagulls are deemed to be dangerous or a real pest, under exceptional circumstances councils can apply for a cull.

"I want to make sure we consider that option - given the circumstances with gulls in Worcester I wouldn't want the council to not look at it.

"We've all heard about seagulls stealing food from children, we've seen the incidents reported in the press.

"We need to consider everything - I'm not saying we should go out and shoot all seagulls, but I want us to look at all options."

Worcester News:

The suggestion comes after people said their lives are being made a misery by the birds, despite council officials saying numbers have dropped.

In recent months residents in the city centre, including flats around Nashes Passage and Phoenix Court, have complained about properties being covered in gull droppings.

Earlier this year householders in Albion Mill, Diglis, said they stopped hanging clothes out to dry while some of the incidents include a seagull biting 22-year-old city worker Jessica Charles, bloodying her hand.

The council spends around £5,000 a year now on tackling seagulls, with around 181 nesting pairs in the city centre during the last breeding season, down from 217 in 2013.

But there are serious concerns the problem is as bad as ever, with many gulls pushed out into residential areas like the KFC at Blackpole Retail Park, Warndon.

An in-house scrutiny review is taking place to consider new ideas, which could include flying a bird of prey at certain locations or handing retailers 'gull proof bins' which cannot be opened.

Cllr Jabba Riaz, cabinet member for a clean, green and safe city, said: "The reason I sent this issue to scrutiny is to get views on what can be done.

"It is not a decision I will take lightly, but if they recommend this as one of the radical solutions then we will look into it."

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 seagulls enjoy 'protected status', which means it is illegal to kill or recklessly injure them.

But the law says licences can be issued to control them in certain, exceptional circumstances such as to preserve public health, stop the spread of disease or conserve other wild birds.

Culls have already been proposed in Brighton, Bristol, Gloucester and many towns in Scotland, although none have got off the ground due to the controversy around it.

* What do you think - should a seagull cull be considered in Worcester? Email te@worcesternews.co.uk or call 01905 742248.