Thieving seagulls steal £171 million value of our grub yearly, consultants say

Scumbag seagulls are responsible for pinching almost £200m worth of food from furious Brits every single year as they dive bomb to nick our chips

Flying scumbag seagulls are nicking £171million of grub from Brits every year.

The airborne bandits are terrorising diners by dive-bombing them and snatching supplies from under their noses.

More than seven in 10 Brits have had food stolen or targeted by the beaked thugs. And our beloved chippy tea is their number one target.

Nearly three-quarters of gull victims have had the feathered thieves try to make off with their fish and chips.

Sandwiches and ice creams are also firmly on the menu.

The winged menaces have become such a threat that terrified diners are hiding their lunches, scoffing them at lightning speed or giving them up altogether.

Almost a third have dropped, abandoned or even sacrificed their grub when confronted by the hungry hooligans, Compare the Market research found.

And the brazen birds will have a go at almost anything, with reports of them targeting children’s toys and bottles and cans of drink.

Compare the Market’s Charlie Evans said: “We’ve all been there – you sit down with your chips, look away for two seconds and suddenly your lunch has grown wings.

“Seagulls aren’t just stealing our food, they’re making a meal of our money too.”

Thefts are expected to soar this Bank Holiday weekend as folk gobble fish and chips at the seaside.

Wildlife boffs reckon Brits can scare off the brazen birds by staring them down and waving their arms above their heads.

NatureScot has even suggested sticking “googly eyes” on takeaway boxes to spook gulls, claiming they “do not like eye contact”.