RSPB celebrate as Dorset police car put out of action by nesting seagull to the dismay of locals

For the general public seagulls are an inconvenient menace who steal people's food, but for waders they are rapidly turning into the greatest threat to their survival.

Across the UK's uplands ground nesting birds are being decimated by colonies of seagulls as their population continues to spiral out of control.

But the latest madness around seagulls has arisen in Bridport, Dorset, where a police car has been put out of action after a pair of protected seagulls started nesting on its roof.

Officers are unable to clear the clump of twigs and branches because it is illegal to damage or destroy a birds' nest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Instead, they have coned off the patrol car in the seaside town of Bridport, Dorset, to keep members of the public away from it.

Understandably members of the public are in uproar at the absurdity of the situation.

Local resident Ray Jennings said: "Why are seagulls a protected species when there are millions of them everywhere feeding on landfill sites, in high streets and any local pond?"

Another said: "I expect the victims of a robbery that could have been prevented by this car being in service will be most understanding!"

However, a spokesperson for the RSPB, reinforcing just how out of touch with the general public the charity has become, said: "Whilst a somewhat surprising place for this lovely herring gull to nest, we hope that under the protection of the Dorset constabulary this bird will be safe from harm. Hopefully these gulls will do better with the thin blue line than they often do in the deep blue yonder."

It seems all common sense has been lost in that the law says currently anyone found guilty of an offence against these seagulls could be given a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment and an unlimited fine, which can be imposed in respect of each bird, nest or egg affected.