School puts raptors on playground gull watch

A PRIMARY school is using birds of prey to deter seagulls that have been swooping down on children.

Carys Jones, head of Eifion Wyn in Porthmadog, Wales, said the gulls were “terrifying” children so she hired a firm to bring a falcon and hawk along to scare the birds away.

Gwynedd council said gulls had been swooping over the playground while nesting. Cllr Dafydd Meurig said: “With gulls a protected species, the options available were limited.”

Nia Jeffreys, a school governor, said: “I was shocked to see aggressive seagulls swooping on people. It was distressing for the children and worrying for parents.

“The gulls were protecting their chicks so I am pleased staff have found an approach that works with nature.”

On the hottest day of last summer, the children had to be kept indoors because of the divebombing seagulls.