Sidmouth has appeared on a BBC programme, featured in a guest spot, looking into the town’s seagull problem.

Sidmouth has appeared on a BBC programme, featured in a guest spot, looking into the town’s seagull problem.

Dom on the Spot, which is aired on BBC1, visited Sidmouth as part of an ongoing series following the people whose job it is to hand out on-the-spot fines across Britain.

Dom Littlewood took a trip to the town after hearing about East Devon District Council’s bid to clamp down on visitors feeding gulls.

Sidmouth’s seagulls have become accustomed to surviving on a diet of chips, doughnuts, ice-cream and pasties which they scavenge from unsuspecting visitors and residents.

In an attempt to control the birds’ fondness for junk food a public spaces protection order was put in place in May, meaning anyone who deliberately feeds the gulls can now be fined £80.

The latest Don on the Spot episode spoke to people and businesses on The Esplanade as well as Cllr Simon Pollentine and former Exmouth town councillor Ian Stewart – who was attacked by a gull in June 2016, while eating a sandwich, getting his lip sliced in the process.

The programme will be available on BBC iPlayer for anyone who wants to see Sidmouth in the spot light for the next two weeks.