In response to the seagull front page story, (The Argus, June 11), is there any wonder these poor gulls are (what’s seen to be) attacking people in Peacehaven when they see their nest taken, eggs smashed and some adult gulls shot?

Even a blackbird or any other garden bird would try to retaliate to this treatment. Why is such cruelty directed towards the herring gulls?

This bird is now on the red data list of declining birds and, because of this, the Department of Environment Farming and Rural Affairs has changed the general licence.

The new licence which came into action in December, 2009, now gives herring gulls more protection. Anyone wanting to remove nest and eggs should read the new licence.

Chicks can no longer be moved except in extreme circumstances, when a Government wildlife officer does an inspection and decides on the chicks’ fate. This inspection is much tighter as these chicks are now important due to the decline in the species.

Give gulls a chance or we may lose that wonderful aviator which gives us the call of the seaside.

Sally Keeler, Bennett Road, Brighton