A RAVENOUS gull gulped down a dead rat in a city centre car park, horrifying visitors.
The disturbing incident was witnessed this morning in the car park in Worcester not long after breakfast.
Visitors gasped in horror as the seagull tried to eat the dead rat in Copenhagen Street car park, attempting to gulp the rodent down whole.
One witness said: "I took one look at this and I thought I was going to bring up my breakfast. But I suppose it shows even gulls have their uses - one pest controlling another.
"The bird was fairly brazen about it all and looked like it was trying to swallow the dead rodent whole. I didn't stick around to see if the bird managed the feat but it was doing a good job of it. Maybe they need to keep the gulls to get rid of all the rats."
We reported in April how dozens of seagulls were chased away by a hawk in Worcester in a bid to reduce the number of gulls in the city.
READ MORE: Pesky gulls scatter as big hawk swoops on Worcester rooftops
READ MORE: Bird of prey used to scare away seagulls in Worcester High Street
The hawks help discourage seagulls from nesting when they migrate to the UK for the spring and summer months.
Onlookers could hear and see the seagulls trying to make a quick getaway as the hawk chased them away on Wednesday, April 26.
This has been organised by Worcester City Council for the past two years to try and keep the gull numbers down.
In the past drones, replacing birds’ eggs with life-like dummies, gull-proof bins and gull-proof waste sacks for businesses have been among the methods attempted to control the gull numbers.
The move comes after Worcester City Council's environment committee enquired if a cull could be a possibility, but received legal advice that it would be a non-starter as some of the gulls are protected specials, and some are endangered.
Similar reports were received in May as the bird of prey could be seen perching on buildings in The Shambles outside M&S in Worcester as the screeching gulls flew about in obvious dismay.
At first, the gulls scattered but also tried to mob the raptor which held its ground and seemed 'annoyed' by their attempts to attack it.
The Harris's hawk has been used by Worcester City Council to scare away nesting gulls.
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