A pest controller has praised a Cumbrian MP for her efforts in highlighting the blight seagulls cause to the county's coastal towns.

Mike Morrison, who lives in Maryport, set up his own business – Spirit Falconry and Pest Control – last year to help combat the problem.

His birds of prey can scare off seagulls and many other pests.

Sue Hayman, Workington MP and Shadow Minister for Coastal Communities, took part in a parliamentary debate on the problems caused by gulls this week and suggested a number of humane solutions.

Mike said: "In places like Cumbria it is a continuing problem because they know it is a food source.

"A lot of it is obviously because people are feeding them, although I was in Workington last year and a seagull actually came over my shoulder and tried to nick the food out of my hand. They are opportunists.

"One of the things I recommended to the post office was that I would walk round with the postman and just having the bird there is a useful deterrent and should reduce the number of attacks.

"It is a massive issue that needs to be talked about."

Mike said between April and July was the worst time for the problem because the seagulls are breeding and become more protective.

Speaking in parliament, Mrs Hayman said: “This is a serious health and safety issue.

"Last summer, in Maryport in my constituency, residents were surprised to see a notice come through their door saying that their post could not be delivered due to seagulls.

"The Royal Mail in Maryport managed the problem by getting a local falconer, Mike Morrison, to offer up his services and his hawks and successfully scare the gulls off so that the postmen could return and deliver the local mail."

Mrs Hayman backed the RSPB’s position that culling gulls should not be the immediate way forward, with non-harmful deterrents a priority, and urged the public not to feed them.

She added: “Gulls live for a long time and are intelligent and have good memories, so they have quickly learned that humans are a reliable source of food.

"We need to ensure that food is not just dropped and left—people need to be encouraged not to litter.

"We also need to ensure that there are secure bins or sacks in which food can be disposed of.

“This problem has been going on for an incredibly long time, and although we could have an annual debate, we just need to crack on with tackling it."