Woman left bloodied after 'vicious' seagull attacks her in garden

A pensioner has been left bloodied after a “vicious” seagull attacked her in her garden.

Rhiannon Fennell, 69, initially thought a "brick had fallen" on her head after being knocked to the ground at her home in Prestatyn, Wales.

But as she picked herself off the floor, she realised she had been pecked by one of the gulls nesting on her roof.

Fennell, who suffered cuts and bruises, has now released images of her injuries as a warning to others.

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Fennell said: "I went out through the back door to go to the shed and as soon as I stepped foot outside, the seagull swept down and hit me over the head.

“I thought a brick had fallen on my head as I was knocked to the ground.

"It was quite vicious really, it pecked on my head and I couldn't see because the blood had run down my face and over my glasses.

“When I got inside I washed away the blood and put some antiseptic cream on it and took some painkillers.”

Fennell, who has lived in Prestatyn for 26 years, said the problem has worsened with seemingly more seagulls nesting further inland.

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She urged parents to be vigilant, especially at a time when seagulls can be extra protective of their chicks.

Fennell added: "It seems the gulls are more aggressive at this time of the year because they're protecting their chicks."

She said: “I just hope people take care with their children as these birds can do some damage.

"I lived in Africa for thirty years where they have all sorts of dangerous animals and I was never attacked.

“Now I'm living in Prestatyn and I get attacked by a seagull!"

Seagull attacks on humans are rare in the UK, but when it does happen, the most common case involves the bird stealing food.

The birds can become aggressive during the breeding season, which is typically from May to July.

The population of the seven seagull species normally found in the UK is declining, and are now listed on the official Birds of Conservation Concern list as either red or amber status.

The overall number of herring gulls have fallen by approximately 60 percent in the last 25 years.