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Couple Trapped In Their Home For Almost A Week Due To Aggressive Seagulls

Couple Trapped In Their Home For Almost A Week Due To Aggressive Seagulls

One elderly resident had to go to hospital after being attacked by one of the birds

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

An elderly couple said they were unable to leave their home for six days due to seagulls.

Two seagull chicks slipped into the canopy directly above Roy and Brenda Pickard's front door, leaving the couple trapped in their home for nearly a week.

If either Roy or Brenda did try and make a break for it through the front door they were confronted by the angry, squawking parents who would be right there and ready to kick off.

Seventy-seven-year-old Roy says he even ended up in hospital after one bird smacked him so hard on the back of the head it left him bleeding.

Roy, from Knott End, Lancashire, said: "The whole thing has been terrible.

"I've not been able to go out of the front door. If I try to get out of the door, the two adult birds are right there, and I've got no chance. It's genuinely frightening."

Roy and Brenda Pickard were trapped in their home for almost a week.
SWNS

He added: "My wife isn't well or very mobile at the moment so we're relying on me to get out.

"Thankfully, we have an integrated garage and I can get into it from the kitchen, open the garage door and drive out to get our shopping, but I have to leave the garage door open, which isn't ideal."

Despite ending up in hospital, Roy says it could have been worse had the bird hit him front-on.

"If that bird had hit me in the face instead of the back of the head, I dread to think how seriously injured I would have been," Roy said.

"I had to go to Royal Lancaster Infirmary to get treatment but thankfully I could get in the car."

Roy got in touch with Wyre Council but was told that the birds were Herring Gulls and are protected when nesting. Not ideal for Roy and Brenda.

Two seagull chicks slipped into the canopy directly above Roy and Brenda Pickard's door.
SWNS

In desperation, Roy called the RSPCA, the RSPB and his local radio station.

Eventually, BBC Radio Lancashire arranged for a gazebo to be set up outside the couple's gaff so they could use that.

But Roy is now fuming with animal welfare organisations who didn't help.

He said: "The RSPCA and RSPB have been no help whatsoever, they seem to put the rights of these birds above those of people, which is ridiculous.

"The public pays donations to keep these organisations going and this is what you get.

"Wyre Council sent a man down and he took a photo, and then they seemed to tell me they would bring someone else around with an umbrella to protect us.

"But they don't seem to be able to do anything about the birds - and these chicks could be there until the end of July.

"Why are seagulls protected? They are not an endangered species, they're a flaming nuisance."

BBC Radio Lancashire put a canopy up outside the couple's home.
SWNS

A Wyre Council spokesman said: "We sympathise with Mr Pickard's situation, seagulls can be troublesome, particularly when nesting.

"We have visited Mr Pickard to assess the situation and have given advice on how he can deal with the gulls.

"For now, a solution is in place which will enable Mr Pickard to take his wife to her private appointment.

"The gulls in question are Herring Gulls and they are protected once nesting and so there are limited solutions available.

"We advise residents who have a problem with seagulls to bird proof their properties prior to the breeding season."

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: uk news, Animals