A bird expert is urging people to help combat dive-bombing seagulls by binning their food scraps over the festive season.

John Butler has warned people not to feed herring gulls with bread and leftovers.

The advice has been given to stop people being hassled by the airborne menaces and help the birds themselves.

Mr Butler, who heads a Brighton-based bird-proofing firm, has now produced a booklet on the issue which is available across Sussex.

He said: "By feeding gulls you are not helping them but causing a long-term problem for not only the gulls but also for yourself."

In the booklet, he says feeding the birds causes them to lose their natural ability to catch their own food.

Mr Butler is known as John the Birdman of Brighton because of his expertise on gulls.

He said: "It is the act of deliberate feeding more than any other that has bought the herring gull into disrepute.

"We now have a large, confident, highly-competitive seabird looking to us to supplement its diet.

"If we don't feed herring gulls, they will eventually turn to natural sources of food."

Mr Butler said birds started to crave more food and became a nuisance by ripping open bin bags.

Sometimes they would even attack people with food in their hands, such as children with ice creams.

The gulls also make a mess and build their nests on people's homes. Mr Butler said people should not attempt to remove birds from roofs but should call in experts.

Seagulls are a constant menace across Brighton and Hove and The Argus reported in July how users of Queen's Park in Brighton were being attacked when they bought tuna sandwiches from a kiosk, prompting the owner to issue warnings.

The booklets are available from most libraries in Sussex and some council offices.

Mr Butler can be contacted at jbutler@cleandimensions.co.uk