Woman needs umbrella to fend off seagull attacks

A woman living in Cornwall has said she cannot leave her house without needing to defend herself against seagulls.

Valerie Bannister, from Fowey, said she has been left "feeling scared" after she was knocked to the ground on Friday night.

The 70-year-old said she did not wish to see the animals harmed and explained the birds were trying to protect their chicks which are outside the front and rear door to her house.

However, she admitted she was now fearful of serious injury if something was not done. Discussing Friday's incident, Ms Bannister said: "I was on the floor with these wretched birds circling above me."

She added: "The adult attacked me so badly that I fell over, which to be honest has left me feeling scared. I thought they were going to attack me again.

"If a young man had hit me like this, the police would probably have arrested him."

Ms Bannister said she only suffered bruising from hitting the floor but said if she had not been carrying an umbrella it would have been much worse.

Asked if she had been able to leave her house since the attack, she said: "I've left the house but I've been on my guard.

"Yesterday, I was leaving through the back door, going down the side of the house, through the garage and out of the drive but while carrying an umbrella."

The wildlife conservation charity RSPB said the Fowey resident was right to be using an umbrella.

A spokesperson said: "When gulls dive-bomb, it's not aggression, just protective parenting.

"If you are experiencing this, we advise to use an umbrella when entering or leaving a property to deter the parents from getting too close.

"They'll move on once their chicks can fly, which won't take long once they are out of the nest."

The Fowey resident said she did not see how the issue could be resolved because the animals are protected.

"The law was written in 1981 and seagull behaviour was very different then," she said.

"I'm in a town now where they are an absolute menace. I just feel the ruling is archaic, it's almost 50 years old."

Cornwall Council have been contacted for comment.

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