AFTER a few near misses a woman is now terrified that predatory seagulls are going to kill her dog. 

Elaine Shuttleworth, 66, from Duke Street in Barrow is worried that her beloved pet, Molly, six, is going to get badly hurt or killed by the seagulls that surround her home. 

The final straw was when Mrs Shuttleworth was walking Molly through Brisbane Park in Barrow on Friday August 7 when a seagull suddenly swooped down at her. 

The grandmother of 13 was shocked and immediately tried to protect her pet. 

She said: "We were coming through the park and I realised there was a baby seagull in the bushes calling. The next thing I knew a seagull swooped down on me and Molly. 

"Luckily I had my throwing stick with me and I managed to hit the seagull away. 

"It came down two more times after that, each time aiming for the dog. 

"I rushed us home and was shaking after that, it terrified me." 

But this wasn't the end of it for Mrs Shuttleworth and Molly.  

She said: "I went out with Molly the next morning and it happened again. 

"It's getting worse each year and something needs to be done. 

"It shouldn't take someone getting hurt for the council to take action. The seagulls need to be culled." 

Mrs Shuttleworth is now nervous to leave the house with Molly. 

She said: "I lost my husband in June and I live alone. 

"If anything were to happen to Molly I would be heartbroken." 

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Molly is no stranger to seagull attacks, having only been eight weeks old when the first one tried to peck her. 

Mrs Shuttleworth said: "I was out in the back garden when she was just a puppy and I couldn't believe that a seagull dived down to get her.

 "She wasn't badly hurt but she was shaken up afterwards." 

To help protect Molly Mrs Shuttleworth has tied plastic carrier bags to her washing line to try and deter the predatory gulls from her backyard. 

Mrs Shuttleworth believes that litter is at the root of the problem. 

She said: "To the left of the park where the swings are there's bushes which are full of rubbish. Bins are overflowing and litter is on the streets. 

"The seagulls are always going for the Macdonalds wrappers and whatever scraps they can find."

James Diamond, Natural England operations director, said:

"Natural England provides clear licensing advice to local authorities and landowners on the actions they can take to manage potential gull problems. Where certain species pose a risk to public health or safety, immediate action is allowed; this can include removing their nests and eggs and, for lesser black-backed gulls, lethal control if necessary.

"We recommend that local authorities develop a long-term management strategy, using a package of measures, to keep gull numbers in check."