“FEED the bins, not the gulls” is the message to Worcester residents as the birds return to the city to start their breeding season.

The appeal is going out to shoppers, visitors and residents to make sure they dispose of food properly when they’re out and about, by wrapping it up and putting it in the waste bin.

Councillor Joy Squires, Chair of the City Council’s Environment Committee said:“Dropping the remains of sandwiches, kebabs, chips and other food in the street gives gulls an opportunity to feed, and encourages them to come into our city,”

Many Worcester people have had encounters with gulls. In 2016, Worcester News Reporter Jessica Charles was attacked by a gull which left her with two deep cuts to the hand. Earlier this year, reporter Sebastian Richards had a steak bake snatched out of his hands by a gull.

Cllr Alan Feeney, Vice Chair of the Environment Committee, said: “Gulls are a problem in Worcester – they scavenge food, spread their droppings on our buildings and pavements, and they can be very noisy.

“There’s no one simple solution to controlling our city’s gull population, but if we all try to do what we can it will help.”

Worcester City Council is working with partners including Worcestershire Regulatory Services and Worcester BID (Business Improvement District) to raise awareness of the actions we can all take to limit the nuisance caused by gulls.

Alongside the “Feed the bins, not the gulls” posters, advice and tips are being given to residents and employers to help them to take steps to reduce the impact of urban gulls in the city.