Britain is in full panic mode amid claims the country's marauding seagulls are now feasting on whole rats to stave off their insatiable hunger.
There have been reports of the birds stealing mobile phones, attacking a man for a bacon butty and leaving him with a black eye and even being a risk to babies.
David Cameron went as far as talking about a cull saying a "big conversation" is needed after reports of a seagull killing dog caused public outcry.
Seagull expert Peter Rock, told the Daily Mail that the birds are "misunderstood" and simply trying to protect their chicks, adding that they are "highly intelligent and try to avoid conflict with humans."
Misunderstood or not, these brassy birds seem to be causing quite a frenzy amongst locals in coastal towns, which is reminiscent of scenes from Alfred Hitchcocks ‘The Birds’.
25 Seagulls
(01 of23)
Selfie's taken by seagulls on Rebecca Mill's phone in Whitby. A tourist who left her phone on a seaside bench found it but discovered hungry birds had pecked at the screen - taking the first seagull SELFIE. See SWNS story SWSELFIE. Stunned Rebecca Mills, 25, had been eating fish and chips looking out to sea and walked back to her hotel - leaving her iPhone on the seat. But when she remembered and ran back to fetch the phone twenty minutes later she found a series of pictures - taken by gulls. The birds had been attracted to the handset by Rebecca's greasy finger marks and began pecking at the phone. (credit:SWNS.com)
(02 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A seagull eats discarded takeaway food at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(03 of23)
These pictures show the latest seaside craze - teens running along promenades holding food in the air to see how far they can get before being attacked by SEAGULLS. See swns story SWFO (credit:SWNS.com)
(04 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A seagull raids a litter bin at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(05 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A seagull squabble watches as people eat takeaway food on the seafront at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(06 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A seagull eats discarded takeaway food at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(07 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A seagull stands on a roof top at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(08 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A pack of seagulls squabble over discarded food left on the beach at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(09 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A seagull eats from a discarded takeaway container left on the beach at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(10 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A seagull watches a building flying the Cornish flag at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(11 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A seagull watches as it sits on a wall besides the harbour at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(12 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A seagull stands on railings surrounding the harbour at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(13 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A pack of seagulls squabble over discarded takeaway food at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(14 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: A pack of seagulls squabble over discarded takeaway food at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(15 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Seagulls watch as a woman eats a icecream besides the harbour at St Ives on July 29, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(16 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A pack of seagulls squabble over discarded food left on the beach at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(17 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A pack of seagulls squabble over discarded food left on the beach at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(18 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Seagulls gather on the harbour wall at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(19 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A seagull watches as people eat takeaway food on the seafront at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(20 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A pack of seagulls squabble over discarded food left on the beach at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(21 of23)
Soccer - Pre-Season Friendly - Yeovil Town v Bournemouth - Huish Park: Stewards and Ground staff attempt to remove a stray Seagull chick that wandered onto the field of play during the pre-season friendly at Huish Park, Yeovil. (credit:Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
(22 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Seagulls eat from a discarded takeaway container left on the beach at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(23 of23)
ST IVES, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Seagulls gather on the harbour wall at St Ives on July 28, 2015 in Cornwall, England. Recent attacks by herring gulls on people and their pets has led British Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a discussion on ways of managing the birds, which are currently protected, but have been seen as an increasingly aggressive pest, especially in popular tourist seaside resorts and also in urban town and city centres. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)