Before and for some time after the Second World War, dolphins - which are the symbols of Brighton - were always seen in the sea along the coast.

I used to have a small boat and many times a school of dolphins would surround me, jumping out of the sea and playing around the boat. They weren't a danger though.

Now one has to go overseas to try to see them. Also, many of us could go down to the rocks to pick winkles, whelks, muscles and many types of shellfish.

I remember the winkle woman who used to come around the John Street area selling her wares - but not any more.

People are complaining about seagulls and, in some places, they are being shot.

It isn't the fault of the gulls - it's us.

Remember that seagulls helped us to win the war.

The sea is now so polluted that local shellfish can no longer be picked up. This has been banned for decades.

Likewise, the poor old seagulls have no fish to eat, hence they are having to come inland, living off scraps and fields and even learning worm charming in order to obtain food.

Where will it end?

-Reg Moores, Brighton