THE first question by a member of the public, put to Sidmouth Town Council on Monday after its change to its public question time system, spotlighted seagull nuisance in the town.

THE first question by a member of the public, put to Sidmouth Town Council on Monday after its change to its public question time system, spotlighted seagull nuisance in the town.

Stella Powell asked: "A seagull got shot last week. They are a nuisance but they are protected. Can East Devon District Council or Sidmouth Town Council do anything to reduce the number of seagulls?

"There is their mess everywhere when walking on the pavement and on cars."

Chairman Peter Sullivan said: "Personally I sympathise, they are protected."

"They are town gulls, and we have been told if we eradicated the lot the town would be re-inhabited within 12 months," said Councillor Chris Gibbings.

"We are a seaside town and we have seagulls. We have to put up with it."

He said roof spikes, put up to deter gulls, were being used by the birds to secure their nests.

Councillor Sylvia Carr said in the past, china eggs were put into nests to deter gulls from laying, "but louts were picking them out.