BUSINESSES at an estate plagued by dive-bombing seagulls have taken action to scare off the birds - with their own army of fake hawks. 

The bird deterrents, which act like a scarecrow, have been deployed to ward off swirling and swooping gulls in Carlisle, scaring workers and showering cars with droppings. 

Incidents at the Durranhill industrial estate have included the menace flocks carrying stones and dropping them onto a roof, causing damage in the process. 

One man said a seagull dropped a lightbulb close to him - with him narrowly avoiding potential injury. 

The fake hawks are now flying high on top of buildings. 

Chris Kirk, a director at County Removals on Brunel Way, told the News & Star: “The seagulls were dive bombing people in the yard and pooing everywhere - on cars, people, walls and the ground. 

“It seems pathetic but we had to take action as it gets worse every year. 

“We have to keep our vans clean - we can’t send them out dirty. Also the poo has acid in it and if you don’t wash it away then it can burn into the paintwork. 

“A few weeks ago one of them dropped a car lightbulb close to where I was walking."

The firm has bought a fake hawk they have called Harry as a deterrent. 

Mr Kirk said: “The problem is the seagulls are nesting on the roofs and they are very protective of their young. They are greedy too. “Harry isn’t harming anyone - he’s there to protect us.” 

Mr Kirk first heard about the seagull deterrent when one of his employees travelled on a job to Scotland. 

He said: “A colleague went to the Orkney Islands and they had one on the dockside so we decided to get one. We bought it online and it’s made a huge difference.” 

The seagulls have damaged the roof at nearby Cumbria Coaches, also on Brunel Way. 

Director Paula Blair said: “They have been nesting on the roof and damaging it. They seem to be picking up stones and dropping them. The problem has got steadily worse over the years. 

“I think the deterrent is working.” She said the firm’s coaches had not been affected as they are under cover. 

“Some of the other businesses put the hawks up so we thought we would give it a try too,” she added.