U.K. Street Cleaners Attacked by “Vicious” Seagulls

It was the attack of the killer… seagulls.

According to Daily Post, two street cleaners in the United Kingdom were forced to use their brooms and litter-pickers as weapons to defend themselves and a woman from “vicious” seagulls.

Mark Vernon and Steve Scott were busy cleaning the streets of Rhuddlan, Wales, when the seagulls descended upon them and the woman.

“Steve was checking the bins while I searched the car park for litter. Suddenly I felt claws on my head. It was like a stealth attack from behind – I didn’t see or hear it coming,” said Vernon.

The attack was just one of many that have been occurring frequently in the town, located in Denbighshire County, an area better known for its sheep farms, bed-and-breakfast establishments, and seaside guest houses. It’s believed the seagulls are protective parents of chicks that are getting ready to leave their nest.

“The gull didn’t draw blood, but I’ve been told others have not been so lucky,” Vernon continued. “A builder nearby told me I was the third person they’d attacked that morning —they’re vicious little buggers!”

Together, the street cleaners also came to the aid of a salon therapist trapped in her car due to the threatening seagulls. Using their cleaning tools to fend off the birds, the two helped the woman escape.

“Steve and I saw a woman in her car and realized she might get attacked too,” Vernon said. “So we got our brushes and held them up to ward off attacks as we walked her to work. They daren’t come near us.”

Being that the nesting seagulls are protected by local law, there won’t be an end to the attacks anytime soon. But Vernon said that the workers were happy to help.

“We feel part of the community and want to help people in any way we can,” he said. “We enjoy our work, and we were more than happy to escort this young lady to her place of work.”