HUNGRY seagulls are attacking people and stealing their food in Bournemouth and Poole.

Increasing numbers of the birds are swooping at visitors to the Dorset coastline and are now moving further inland in their pursuit of scraps.

Boscombe councillor Phil Stanley-Watts said he has received complaints from residents as far inland as Boscombe precinct.

And he urged members of the public and business owners to be responsible in a bid to stop the problem getting any worse.

"People are having food stolen out of their hands and a seagull swooped at me when I was out running even though I didn't have any food" he said.

"The problem is made worse by business owners who leave bin liners with food inside on the pavement and by people who feed the seagulls."

Now he has brought up the issue at a Bournemouth council meeting. claiming it is a health and safety issue which must be addressed.

In response, Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member for waste, said the council had few powers to interfere with gulls.

"As a protected species, any action taken against problematic seagulls must be in accordance with the Natural England guidance relating to herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls," he said.

"Netting and wires can be suspended over areas which are heavily populated by the birds, but installation on a wide scale basis is not practicable."

Cllr Filer said "authorised persons" could undertake egg replacement to thin bird numbers, but such a process would be expensive and could "provoke aggression" from nesting gulls.

"Ultimately placing waste, particularly food waste, into bins together with regular waste collections are the most effective measures against problematic seagulls, both of which are prioritised by our street services teams," he added.

Complaints have also been received by Poole council, particularly about Poole Quay and Falkland Square.

Jeff Morley, Regulatory Team Manager, Borough of Poole, said: "We receive a very small number of complaints regarding the behaviour of seagulls in Poole each year.

"Seagulls will take opportunities to feed. So when residents and visitors feed the seagulls they are encouraged to return to these areas to source more food and we would advise people not to offer food to the seagulls. This is particularly likely between May and July as they are sourcing food for their fledglings."

Natural England published advice on gull control this time last year, saying local authorities should use netting to discourage birds from nesting in specific areas, keep food waste facilities secure and discourage the feeding of birds by members of the public.

A general licence is in place allowing councils to remove the nests and eggs of gulls where they pose a risk to "public health and safety", and it also allows for the "lethal control" of black-backed gulls, although herring gulls are listed as a vulnerable species and protected.

Like all wild birds, gulls and their eggs and nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.