I HAD a bit of a surprise whilst walking back to Worcester News HQ on Monday as a gull swooped down from the sky and snatched a steak bake from my hand.

I was absent-mindedly strolling back at about 12.30pm, along Angel Place with about a third of the bake left.

As I went past the party shop in Angel Place, I made to take another bite, but a gull had other ideas.

It came down from the sky and it all happened so quickly, snatching the bake from my hand.

I was in total shock. It was something I have read about and that we have done stories about, but I did not expect it to happen again.

I don't think I will be eating in the street again and it was an altogether rather bizarre experience.

The gull left me with a cut to my hand and I think it is worth warning people to not eat in the street in order to avoid a similar experience.

It certainly raised awareness of the issue to me, as I was keeping a close eye on any other gulls for my walk back to the office.

We have done stories in the paper previously about when gulls have drawn blood and there have even been calls from councillors to cull the gulls.

Last time we did a story, 70 percent of our online readers who voted in a poll wanted to see gull numbers reduced in the city.

Councillor Alan Amos has been particularly outspoken about the gulls and there have been countless debates at the Guildhall on how to solve the gull problem.

Cllr Amos says that "People cannot use their gardens in summer" because of the gulls and whilst this might be an exaggeration, people do have to think twice about gulls.

Worcester City Council has repeatedly told residents not to feed the gulls, which would encourage them to snatch food from people.

There was cross party support for raising the budget to £15,000 a year to deal with them, from a current £5,000 a year.

I did not get affected too badly, but gull bites could cause infection and it is certainly something that needs addressing.