AN URBAN nature expert has spoken out in defence of gulls, following reports of the birds swooping on residents in Worcester.

Gulls living in the city have been stigmatised as aggressive, dangerous and dirty pests, with some residents calling for them to be culled.

But according to author and broadcaster David Lindo, also known as the Urban Birder, the birds only nest in cities because of humans' "sloppy nature" meaning food is readily available.

Mr Lindo, who has featured on BBC Radio 4, said: "I do not see them as being dangerous at all.

"Gulls used to be coastal birds and they used to feed out at sea, but that food has now all but diminished so they have drifted into cities and they have found food because of our sloppy nature.

"A bird like a gull is not likely to injure you because it will mean injuring itself and if it injures itself it's game over.

"They can be aggressive in defence of their nests, but that is a very small window of the year."

According to Mr Lindo, who was voted seventh most influential person in Wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine, Worcester is home to two species of gull: the herring gull and the lesser black-backed gull.

He said: "I can totally understand why people get annoyed with them. Okay, they swoop down and peck people's sandwiches, or they will nick your chips, but that is a learned behaviour and that has been taught to them by humans.

"I think a lot of people are disconnected to nature in urban areas. Once we start to reconnect you realise they are just doing what comes naturally."

His advice comes after Worcester City Council's Labour leadership pledged to review its work on reducing the seagull population following a spark in complaints over the summer.

Pensioner Chris Knight, from Warndon, told of the "horrible" moment an adult gull swept through her hair while she was standing in Angel Place.

Earlier this year Jessica Charles, a marketing assistant at the Swan Theatre, was eating a biscuit when a gull nipped her hand with its beak, drawing blood.

And councillor Richard Udall, who represents St John's, recently said gulls "plague" residents not just in the city centre but across residential areas too.

Methods to deter gulls appears to be working, with the city's population of nesting pairs at 181 at the last count. The number stood at 317 in 2008.