LOVE them or loathe them, a Sussex without seagulls would be unthinkable.

The distinctive birds, more accurately known as herring gulls, are as an important part of the county as beaches, the South Downs, candyfloss and piers.

They are so synonymous with the area that the county’s largest football club, Brighton and Hove Albion, is known by the nickname the Seagulls.

The Argus:

The chant of “seagulls” is a constant well known sound at the American Express Community Stadium at Falmer and the club’s mascot, Gully, is a popular and regular feature at matches.

The seagull is also emblazoned on the club’s official logo.

Yes, seagulls can be noisy and aggressive at times, particularly when they have young around, and yes, they are not averse to swooping in and stealing your fish and chips, but it just would not be Sussex without them.

As Jess Price, conservation officer at the Sussex Wildlife Trust, points out: “Herring gulls are an iconic part of our coastal environment and are one of the few birds that have managed to adapt to the intensive development of our seaside towns.

“They would naturally nest on cliffs and island, but as development has spread, herring gulls have moved into urban areas.

“In Sussex, roof-nesting herring gulls have increased dramatically, while those at natural sites have fallen.”

However, overall, the future of the well-known gull is becoming increasingly at risk.

As Roger Musselle from Rogers Wildlife Rescue in Woodingdean points out, these gulls need protecting.

He said: “Sussex is one of the strongholds for these birds at a time when their population is decreasing in the UK and around the world, so we need to be looking after them.”

Sussex Wildlife Trust says the overall breeding population of herring gulls in Britain has declined by 50 per cent in 50 years.

It is thought that changes in fishing practices reducing food availability, along with avian botulism, may be potential causes of the decline.

Ms Price said: “I would be devastated to think of herring gulls being lost from our coastal towns.

“A seaside scene without herring gulls would be like a 99 ice cream without a flake. You could still enjoy the ice cream, but it just wouldn’t be the same.”