Firefighters and wildlife charities are reporting a “huge spike” in calls to rescue baby seagulls with chicks building enough confidence to go exploring.

Volunteers at the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue are taking up to 100 calls a day and fire stations are said to be “inundated” with requests to rescue the inquisitive youngsters.

A crew from Brighton’s Preston Circus was called to rescue a baby gull stuck headfirst in a gutter last week.

Firefighters had to wrench the ball of fluff from the plastic gutter with a litter picker.

The same crew was called out again to rescue a gull on Thursday and Friday night.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “It’s always the same around this time of year. The babies get enough confidence to go out exploring and end up in a spot of bother.

“On Friday we had to rescue four from some roof netting in Lower Rock Gardens.

“I’m sure we will get called out again most days next week.”

Wandering

Trevor Weeks, from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue, said that his organisation was “struggling to cope” with up to 110 calls a day.

He said: “The great thing about seagulls is that from just a few days old they can peck at food on their own accord. However, they also start wandering around but have no concept of falling off things.”

He explained that it takes several weeks before seagulls have developed enough to learn to fly.

“At that age they are nothing more than a ball of fluff. If they are found on the ground they are in danger of being taken by a cat, dog or even fox.

“Our advice is to pick the bird up and put it back on the roof.

“If they aren’t reunited with their mother than the chance of their survival plummets.

“The only reason to call for help is if the bird is trapped.”

For more details and advice visit: sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk