Seagulls are making life miserable for residents living at the Paddocks in Port St Mary and they want action to be taken.

Residents wrote to the local authority ’the noise and defecation from these birds is becoming intolerable’.

The noise and squawking starts at 4am ’meaning a full night’s undisturbed sleep is impossible, which by the way, carries on throughout the day and late into the evening’.

Residents agree the noise is ’horrendous’.

Birds’ waste ruins paintwork on property and on vehicles, they also peck away and damage rubber window seals and car aerials.

They even enter properties looking for food.

They nest in the derelict compound nearby ’which as well as unsightly is in a dangerous state’.

Residents keep their doors closed and don’t think of eating food outside.

The noise starts ’as soon aa the sun comes up,’ said Shan Blake. ’It can be at 3am. It’s so annoying. They come into the house too, one was eating the dog biscuits. And the birds are full of parasites.

’It’s not that I hate birds, I don’t, I just want them to go somewhere else. There’s plenty of space along the cliffs.

’If they went elsewhere it would be better for us and better for them.

’People say: "You live in an island, what do you expect?" But I don’t live by the sea, I live in a housing estate.

’I just want someone to manage the situation better, for someone - whether that’s the commissioners or DEFA - to take ownership. And I want a decent night’s sleep.’

At a recent meeting, the authority agreed to seek advíce from the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture.

Seagulls are protected, however intervention can be made - such as removing nests and eggs - in certain circumstances.