One attempted to cycle over the gull on the seafront last Friday (August 15) and then went off laughing.

The resident, who wished not to be named, said the incident happened by the boating lake in the Old Town.

He said: "Baby seagulls were out on the side and a young male hooligan on a bike came swiftly along the path and deliberately in front of about eight or nine people attempted to run over one of the babies.

"Despite many of us shouting at him he completely ignored us all, continued in his attempt at robbing the baby gull of its life, and then cycled off laughing to himself.

Fortunately the baby gull survived but was obviously in shock for a little while.

"On other occasions I have seen imbeciles sitting in the bus shelter, facing the main seafront road, eating chips and deliberately throwing food into the road watching and laughing while hungry gulls swoop down and lose their lives.

"Sadly I have also seen adults do this when they have children sitting with them. What a miserable example is being set for the young.

"Where do all these irresponsible idiots come from? Another planet? Were they born without brains or feelings?

"Clearly their parents have never taught them to have respect for all living things.

"Here is a message for all seagull haters: If you don't like seagulls move away from the seaside and live somewhere else."

Last month Helan Bennett, 43, of Lower Park Road, discovered an injured seagull in a black plastic bag in her garden.

It had been deliberately beaten and was later put down.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "This is not acceptable and is against the law to cause suffering to wildlife.

"People need to learn to live with gulls."