SMEAGOL the Seagull is causing a stir on Portland after he and his mate set up home in a flower urn.

Low cost homes would appear to be in short supply for birds as well as people because photographer Stuart Fretwell saw the pair chased off several roof sites near his home in Fortuneswell.

He said: "I was at home writing when I saw these two gulls getting chased off potential nest sites on nearby rooftops. Both birds would not take no for an answer, but they could not find any high-rise sites so they came down to ground level to try their luck.

Tentative

"First of all they made tentative attempts to set up home in the gravel, but the flower urn was obviously much more nest-like so they took it over and they are still there now."

It was such an unusual sight that Stuart snapped off a photograph and also called his wife, Sandra, to see the pair.

Stuart said: "It was so comical. They are ever so friendly, perhaps a bit too friendly because if we happen to leave the back door open they will come in and take our cat's food."

Recently, Stuart surprised the male in the kitchen and he knocked over a load of ornaments in his attempts to escape.

Stuart said: "One of the things which got smashed was Sandra's favourite jug which didn't endear him to her too much.

"In the end I just grabbed hold of him, chucked him out and he has not been back since."

The seagull is no stranger to the Fretwells who have seen him in the area many times before.

Stuart said: "He is a regular here because we have seen him for several years and my daughter, Sophie, calls him Smeagol the Seagull."