NESTING seagulls have been causing sleepless nights for residents near Woolston Grange.

Between March and September for the past few years the birds have set up home on the roofs of units on the Melford Court estate.

The animals have returned this year and are causing problems for people across the neighbourhood.

Andrew Thompson, who lives on Poulton Crescent, said: “Seagulls are nesting on top of the units at the grange and people can’t sleep at night. They are making noise all through the night, they are going bananas.

“You end up so tired when you’re going to work because they keep you awake. I commute to work and I’m absolutely shattered.

“There’s an old people’s home at the bottom of Longbarn Lane and I feel so sorry for them - I don’t know how they sleep at night. It’s a really big problem.

“It’s unbearable. Lots and lots of people are complaining but the council say there’s not much they can do.”

Around 100 birds are reported to have nested in the area but all gulls are protected by law, meaning there are limited solutions to the problem.

Andrew added: “I understand that but we are asking for maybe nets on the units, not for them to be killed.”

The council confirmed the issue is the responsibility of the landowner.

A spokesman for Knight Frank, which manages the estate, said: “We are aware there is an issue with seagulls and we therefore employ hawking services as a deterrent.

“We receive monthly reports on progress with details on the hawking birds used and the number of seagulls removed.

“We believe that the problem extends way beyond the areas which fall under our management, but we are trying to address the issue within the areas we maintain.

“Unfortunately as nesting gulls are protected it can be difficult to remove them completely but we are doing all we can to manage the problem.”