Driver kills gulls in Cumbria

A driver has been condemned after reportedly mowing down four gulls in his car.

The incident happened at the Cornmill Crossing in Barrow, Cumbria, and has sparked outrage. A witness claims she saw the motorist intentionally mow down the four gulls, which were on the road.

Four gulls were run over and none survived (Joe Seymour).

Elisabeth Ashleigh, from Bardsea Bird Sanctuary, described the incident as 'sickening'. She said: "I've never known anywhere like Barrow for hatred towards gulls. I don't know whether there was food on the road or whether people have thrown food on the road.

"But it had to be deliberate for four gulls within yards of each other to be just be ploughed down. It's absolutely awful – it's a massacre." Ms Ashleigh described the driver who allegedly mowed down the group of gulls as a "coward".

She added: "Drivers wouldn't do this to another human being so why do they take it out on poor, innocent birds. They are cowards and think they can get away with it. One of them was actually still alive when it was rescued but sadly died. It's heartbreaking to see these birds in pain."

Ms Ashleigh is calling for more deterrents against drivers who intentionally hit birds with their cars. "The trouble is half the time these people get away with doing this. They aren't brought to justice so aren't afraid to do it again. It's been reported to the Cumbria Wildlife Officer but you never see arrests or convictions for incidents like this. There needs to be harsher penalties."