ANOTHER attempt is being made at solving Worcester's persistent gull problem, this time using other birds of prey to scare off the pests.

Worcester City Council is considering bringing birds of prey, including hawk flying, to tackle the issue of the gulls.

Last year there were 1,072 recorded pairs of gulls in Worcester, an increase of almost 150 per cent in 14 years.

The move was trialled last year and is understood to now be the favoured option, among several others being considered.

A Worcester City Council spokesman has confirmed this year's budget to tackle gull numbers has doubled to £60,000.

The spokesman said: "A more detailed breakdown will go to the environment committee in the second half of this year, so that necessary steps can be put in place before the 2022 breeding season."

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.

And when Worcester City Council's environment committee enquired if a cull could be a possibility, legal advice was given that it would be a non starter as some of the gulls are protected specials, and some are endangered.