Aggressive seagulls have sparked postal chaos in the Cornish town of Liskeard, with Royal Mail forced to halt deliveries after a series of swooping attacks on its staff.
Locals were left without their posts after delivery workers raised serious concerns over their safety. The birds, said to be fiercely protecting their young, have been dive-bombing anyone passing through their nesting zones.
In response, Royal Mail has issued an apology to residents and set out alternative arrangements. These include redirecting deliveries to safer locations or holding mail at the local sorting office until further notice.
Residents have been advised to exercise patience, with the postal service suggesting the situation may only ease once the gulls’ nesting season winds down in late August.
A letter sent to affected households stated: “As you may be aware, we are currently experiencing some difficulties safely delivering to you and your neighbour due to seagulls in the area, swooping at delivering staff in order to protect their young.
“The purpose of this letter is to firstly advise you of the issues we are experiencing, but also to assure you that we will continue to attempt deliveries every day.”
It continued: “Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause, but whilst Royal Mail is committed to providing a consistent daily delivery to addresses, we do place the highest priority on the safety of our employees.”
Seagulls in the UK typically rear their chicks from May through to August. During this period, they can become highly territorial and defensive.
According to the RSPCA, such swooping behaviour is a natural response to perceived threats near their nests. Fortunately, the aggression tends to subside once the fledglings are strong enough to fend for themselves.
Naomi, a Liskeard resident, shared her experiences with the BBC. The birds nest annually near her home, making daily life rather tense.
“It’s really a daily occurrence where I’m seeing people that are walking by or delivering things getting swooped,” she said. “It’s sort of deadly to go out.”
Another local told The Telegraph: “These birds are so terrible for being so protective of their young. Something has got to be done about these birds to stop them attacking humans.”
Meanwhile, some have offered a more light-hearted solution, suggesting postmen and women could simply don hats or protective helmets to dodge the airborne menace.
For now, the residents of Liskeard remain caught in a summertime standoff between man and nature, with hopes pinned on calmer skies as August approaches.
