THE leader of the city council has admitted the gull problem in the city is worse than last year but did not back a cull.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, leader of the city council, said there were more gulls in the city than he could remember and would be looking at "all of the options afresh" but did not join his colleague Cllr Alan Amos in supporting a cull.

Cllr Bayliss said he felt the gull problem was not just confined to the city centre and other areas, including his own ward of Bedwardine, were experiencing the same problem.

He said: "I agree with Cllr Amos that the problem is a growing problem in the city.

"I think there are more gulls in the city than what I remember in previous years.

"I think we as a council need to do more to protect not just the city centre community but those in our outlying areas. It's not just Bedwardine, it's not just Lower Wick but there are other areas around the city where the gull problem is an issue.

"I shall be working with other colleagues in the council to find ways to look at putting additional resources to tackle this issue."

Cllr Amos said the gull problem was much worse than last year and had reached "epidemic" proportions. He said a cull was the “only effective solution” to end the misery.

Cllr Amos called on the council to apply for permission from the government to carry out a cull after hearing the “vicious flying rats” had been angering residents by waking them up in the early hours of the morning, “bombarding” cars with droppings, attacking pets and preventing them from sitting in their gardens and opening their windows.

Worcester City Council doubled the amount it spends on gull control to £30,000 last year. The extra money allowed the council to pay for a member of staff dedicated to tackling the gull problem. It also allowed the council to expand the area in which it substitutes gull eggs for fake ones.