Beware the winged menace from above

Sir, – After a truly rotten winter there has been much to enjoy of late weather-wise.

One of the great pleasures on a nice, sunny day is al fresco dining and it has been a pleasure indeed to be able to indulge in same on occasion over the last few weeks.

However, I have a warning for any motivated to enjoy a morsel outdoors in the centre of Dundee.

On Friday I decided to enjoy a takeaway burrito and, with the sun shining, chose to sat outside the MacManus Galleries in Dundee.

Sitting beside the Oor Wullie statue, it promised to be an entirely pleasant event.

Sadly, however, there was a menace in the area — and it wasn’t the aforementioned Wullie.

In fact the danger lurked in the skies above — and swooped just as I was tucking into my much-anticipated luncheon treat.

No fewer than five gulls descended from the skies and began to fight over my lunch, with me cast in the role of little more than an innocent, not to mention helpless, bystander.

No doubt the spectacle may have looked amusing but it was actually a pretty unnerving experience.

I know there have been plenty of stories in the past of people being attacked by gulls but there is precious little evidence of the situation improving.

These urban gulls appear to be getting ever more confident and, unless some action is taken, there is a real danger they may spell the end for al fresco dining in our fine city. Andrew Keating. Rose Street, Tayport.

Unfortunately, gulls are also partial to a spot of al fresco dining...