RESIDENTS in an upmarket Suffolk town are becoming so annoyed by seagulls that they have started shooting them.Householders armed with air rifles are said to be taking pot shots at the gulls after the birds threw Aldeburgh into a flap.

RESIDENTS in an upmarket Suffolk town are becoming so annoyed by seagulls that they have started shooting them.

Householders armed with air rifles are said to be taking pot shots at the gulls after the birds threw Aldeburgh into a flap.

But Suffolk police warned action would be taken against people using air rifles to cull the seagulls.

Gulls scavenge in the streets, nest on the rooftops, dive onto the beach and take chips from the public, wake residents with raucous cries, and leave a mess on cars.

There is an ongoing fight for supremacy on the rooftops between the common gulls and the Black-back variety, and birds are also acting aggressively if they think humans or animals will threaten nests.

Signs will be erected to urge people not to feed the gulls, but at the moment there are no other measures being considered.

Felicity Bromage, chairman of the town appearance committee said: “There is not quite so much 'bombing' going on but I have had reports that members of the public are taking it into their own hands with air rifles and that is a little bit worrying.”

Insp Chris Lucas said it was an offence for someone, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to have an air weapon in a public place and that anyone found shooting seagulls will be liable for prosecution.