Residents say they are "living in fear" following a spate of seagull attacks that have left a number of people hospitalised in a village.
Local Gareth Parry said the birds have been causing "havoc" over the past few months - with the problem now described as the "worse than it has ever been". Several residents in Llanfairpwll in Anglesey, Wales, have required medical treatment and tetanus shots in recent months due to the attacks.
Mr Parry said one woman was "quite badly hurt" after falling on her arm while being mobbed by a group of gulls a few weeks ago. North Wales Live have reported that the 70-year-old "thinks twice" now before leaving the house in case he is swarmed upon.
Mr Parry said that Anglesey Council needs to do more to address the issue in the village. He said seagulls can be aggressive around their chicks and, as the population in the area grows, more problems occur, as has been witnessed this summer. According to the pensioner, some local primary school pupils have been too afraid to attend school as seagulls have been descending on people after nesting on a nearby building.
"This is a problem that we've been having every summer for years now but this year it's even worse," said Mr Parry. "Once the seagulls have their chicks, they become extra aggressive to the point where you think twice about leaving the house. They nest near the houses, on the streets, and across the village centre, and if you get anywhere near one of them, you'll get attacked by three or four of them.
"Some people I know have had to go to hospital for tetanus shots and there was one woman recently who injured her arm quite badly after falling while being attacked. I was talking to people on my street the other day and they said they won't take their dogs out for a walk because they're afraid of being bombarded - it's that bad. It's like being back in lockdown for some people, but at least in lockdown you could walk your dog without being attacked.
"Before the schools shut for the summer holidays, some of the pupils were afraid to go in because the seagulls had nested in the building next door. I know of some of them who didn't go to school in fear of being divebombed by seagulls on their way in the morning.
"When the chicks start to grow and walk around the village by themselves, that's when the problems seem to start. The seagulls are obviously protective of them and they'll attack anyone who comes anywhere near them. I've had them dive towards me but I've not been bitten or attacked yet. If there's a chick anywhere near my garden, I know I won't be able to go out because I'll just get pounced upon.
"The problem goes away towards the end of the summer normally but it's getting worse now year on year. I think if the problem continues next year, people will start to take things into their own hands. If I could, I'd send my council tax to the seagulls because they own this village now. Something needs to be done, so many of us have complained to the council but nothing is being done."
All species of gull are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The RSPB website explains: "This makes it illegal to intentionally or, in Scotland and Northern Ireland, recklessly injure or kill any gull or damage or destroy an active nest or its contents. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, it is also illegal to prevent birds from accessing their nest and, in Northern Ireland, it is illegal to disturb any nesting bird."
Some local authorities attempt to control the numbers of urban gulls by egg-oiling or nest destruction, but these actions do not appear to have the desired effect, the RSPB states. Reducing the organic waste taken to landfill sites and, in towns, preventing street littering, and making public waste bins, domestic and business waste containers and collection arrangements "gull-proof", are effective deterrents according to the organisation.
Anglesey Council has been approached for comment.
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