AN ICE CREAM shop has come up with a novel way of dealing with a village's seagull problem during the busiest six weeks of their year.
Nauti But Ice in Porthleven, now has in-house water shooters that customers and staff can use to fend off seagulls swooping down to steal leftover lunches or ice creams.
David Page, who owns the business with his wife Lucy, says that the defensive measures have been a great success so far.
"We've been doing this for around a month now and we're not sure how it started but it's been a good deterrent.
"We sell the water shooters in our shop and one day a member of staff suggested that it could be a good way to keep the seagulls at bay.
"The seagulls are ingenious and cunning, especially when the mother and fathers are looking for food for their babies.
"They would swoop, land on the tables and when they would fly away they would knock everything over resulting in lots of broken crockery and a lot of mess."
Mr Page also explained how staff would have to run outside as soon as customers left their table to clean up before the seagulls would pounce.
When a seagull did manage to perch on a table, Mr Page's staff previously had to rush outside clapping and shouting to try and force the birds away.
The gulls also took a particular liking to Rodda's Cream Teas and would regularly make a bid to grab the leftover treats.
"Now, thanks to the water squirters the seagulls fly away as soon as they see our staff or customers reaching for the device.
"They are a great source of fun and amusement for our younger customers and the customers don't mind because it's not doing the birds any harm.
"They have very good range and can ever be used to squirt the seagulls on the roof as they are eyeing up their swoop."
