Hawks used to tackle gull menace

It is hoped the Harris hawks will scare the gulls enough to stop then nesting

Harris hawks are being used to deal with the growing seagull problem at a Devon shopping centre.

Since the Princesshay opened in Exeter in September 2007 at least 11 pairs of seagulls have set up nesting sites.

Drains have been blocked with food, and feathers, while protective seagull parents have fouled on and dived at people dining outdoors.

The birds of prey, named Zulu and Zorro, are making flights across the area to scare off the gulls.

After the breeding season in April and May, each pair of seagulls can lay up to 20 eggs. They become naturally aggressive to defend their young.

'Acceptable technique'

The hawks, accompanied by their handlers, are carrying out four flights a week over Princesshay - normally early in the morning and late in the evening - over a 20-week period.

Similar schemes elsewhere in the country have shown that hawks can scare the gulls and discourage them from wanting to nest and roost.

Princesshay operations director Andy Littlejohns said: "We were starting to have a real problem with seagulls not only causing mess and building nests around the shopping quarter but stealing and disrupting meal times in our alfresco dining areas.

"This has allowed us to encourage the seagulls to move on in an environmentally-friendly way."

Natural England said the use of hawks was an acceptable technique which had been widely used and, when used appropriately, could have positive results.

The programme is being run by Eco Environmental, which will then remove and dispose of the nests and eggs in line with C0SHH (control of substances hazardous to health) standards.