BIRDS of prey are helping deter seagulls from hassling members of the public in and around Weymouth Harbour.

The borough council, along with NBC Bird and Pest Solutions, hosted a birds of prey display outside the Weymouth Harbour office on Custom House Quay at the weekend to showcase how the birds can be used to deter seagulls from the area.

The idea is the birds will deter gulls so that visitors can enjoy the ‘sitting out culture’ on the harbour and enjoy a meal or drinks without being interrupted.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s harbourmaster, Keith Howorth, said: "As a harbour we are working together to try to deter the seagulls from the area.

"We are also pushing forward with the message that people shouldn't feed the seagulls.

"This is the first time we have shown the public what we do but we have been working with the company for the past 18 months."

For an hour the birds of prey - Harris Hawks - were flown around the harbour with residents eagerly looking on. Within minutes the hoards of gulls had dispersed and couldn't be seen.

Darren Bishop, regional surveyor and business development manager at NBC Bird and Pest Solutions, said: "As a company we have more than 300 working birds of prey. We train them up from an birth.

"The reason we use Harris Hawks is because they are not a native bird to this country so they are a bigger threat to the seagulls.

"The only thing Harris Hawks are afraid of is dogs. We are doing this more and more of this now. We've been doing this in Plymouth town centre and we've just started one in Bath."

Cllr Jeff Cant, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's briefholder for finance and assets, came down to the demonstration to witness it for himself, alongside Cllr Jason Osborne, briefholder for

tourism, culture and the harbour.

Cllr Cant said: "It is looking positive so far. It's a great way to deter the seagulls as they can be such a nuisance. We will be looking at possibly extending this to along the Esplanade."

James Moore from NBC Bird and Pest Solutions, who trains the birds of prey, said: "We are bringing them to Weymouth harbour twice a week now for more than an hour each time.

"How it works it that when the seagulls see a bird of prey is now living in the area they will not want to be in its patch.

"This will create less problems for boat owners and the general public who are trying to enjoy the sunshine."

Mr Bishop added: "We really need to get the birds of prey onto the old council building as that is a real problem, as is the court house.

"We will be able to remove nests but once the chicks have hatched we wont be able to touch the buildings."