People have been warned not to feed seagulls because seaside visitors are being attacked and having their food stolen. In an appeal to the public, Arun District Council said people should think about the "budget and safety" of those enjoying their food on the seafront before feeding the gulls. It said giving them food encourages them to attack people eating in public, which can cause injuries and is a "frightening experience".
READ MORE: Brighton named the 'seagull attack hotspot' of the UK It also means people can lose food they have just bought - and they may not be able to afford to buy more. A spokesman for Arun District Council said: "Seagulls don’t need feeding. "If you are visiting the coast, please do not feed the seagulls.
Fish and chips or bread crusts are not good for seagulls to eat. "It also encourages them to attack people with food, causing possible injuries, loss of food just purchased from the local traders and a frightening experience. "This may not seem an important issue if it hasn’t happened to you, but please think about the health of the seagulls and the budget and safety of those enjoying their chips.
" Earlier this year another part of the county was named as the UK's seagull attack hotspot. A WhichBingo survey of 2,000 people from across the country found that almost 20 per cent had experienced a run-in with a seagull in Brighton . It found that 43 per cent had been targeted by the birds at some point in their lives.
Almost one in three attacks ha.
