'Don’t Feed the Locals' seagull campaign run in Weymouth by Litter Free Coast and Sea

'Don’t Feed the Locals' to raise awareness of not feeding gulls and keeping scraps of food out of sight has been launched in Weymouth in time for the half-term week.

The seagull menace has become such a problem locally that authorities are working together with businesses to try and cut down on food litter and get the message out to visitors.

It is being run until the end of June by local litter initiative Litter Free Coast and Sea in conjunction with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, whose seafront and harbour teams are involved in the campaign.

More than 40 Weymouth businesses are supporting the campaign too.

Litter Free Coast and Sea says it is grateful to those firms which have agreed to put up posters, place stickers on takeaway food, ensure they are clearing tables quickly, and are raising the issue with customers.

Matilda Manley, Litter Free Coast and Sea co-ordinator said: Seagulls (aka chip thieves) have been known to be quite aggressive to visitors in Weymouth.

"Whilst promoting the campaign in and around Weymouth we have heard stories of seagulls taking steaks off of plates, coming into restaurants and even pooing in people’s beer glasses.

"Seagull excrement is also high in bacteria which can in turn affect bathing water quality."

She added: "The campaign, called 'Don’t Feed the Locals', wants to help break the association that seagulls have around humans and food to encourage them to get their food from more natural sources."

#Don’tfeedthelocals is calling for the public and visitors to help do this by:

Binning any unwanted food in bins provided; make sure your rubbish goes all the way in and can’t be pulled out again by greedy gulls

Taking your plates back inside the café or restaurant when you’ve finished; then the seagulls wont swoop down and finish off your leftovers

Keeping food close to you and stay alert! Please don’t actively feed gulls

There will be two "surprise events" happening over half term to help spread the message to beach and harbour visitors.

People should go along to Weymouth seafront on May 31 and Weymouth Harbour on June 2 to meet some surprise guests.

Litter Free Coast and Sea is an ongoing initiative to reduce the impacts of marine and beach litter, and improve and maintain bathing water quality along the Dorset and east Devon coast.

Weymouth businesses which want to support the seagull campaign can email litterfreecoastsea@dorsetcc.gov.uk

For more information about the campaign see litterfreecoastandsea.co.uk or join in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #Don’tFeedtheLocals