A NEW weapon could be used in the war against Devon's pesky seagulls – a specially-designed laser gun.
The Agrilaser, dubbed 'the scarecrow of the 21st century', fires a green beam which gulls are afraid of but which is harmless to them.
It has been approved by Natural England, who say it does not need a licence to be used on the gull populations plaguing coastal regions across the UK.
The laser is being marketed primarily to farmers, but is now being recommended as the answer to the problem in areas renowned for menacing seagulls.
Shop and cafe owners across Devon and Cornwall have started using water squirters to scare off greedy gulls.
The gun, which was developed in the Netherlands, is being sold for £676.
The manufacturers say that unlike conventional methods of deterrence, the gulls will not get used to the laser beam and will be always be repelled.
Natural England's lead management wildlife advisor, Mary Hunter, gave the go-ahead for lasers to be deployed in this country, and said a range of measures were needed.
She said: "There are remedial actions people can take to protect themselves from being dive-bombed by herring gulls, such as always covering their heads with an umbrella or similar when walking past problem nesting areas.
"I know that sounds silly during warm, sunny weather, but it is up to individuals to protect themselves."
