A bylaw prohibiting the public from feeding gulls is being considered by Port Erin Commissioners.

Commissioner Adrian Tinkler introduced the idea at this month’s local authority meeting.He said one individual in the village who is feeding gulls was ’causing havoc’.

He added Braddan Dommissioners had a bylaw to cover the problem.

He added there is an issue regarding its enforcement.

Commissioners’ chairman Nick Watterson said: ’I do not think when you make a bylaw you do not necessarily need to police it. You cannot stop murder, but we have punishment for it. I do not think we should be put off. It (having a bylaw) sends the signal out: "We do not want this".’

Phil Crellin said: ’ You have a problem with wild birds.’

Barbara Guy said: ’It’s a difficult one if you are feeding birds and a sea gull comes down.’ She added the bylaw must request people to not throw out food stuff where seagulls become a nuisance’

Mr Tinkler said a bylaw is needed, as ’there was nothing you could hang your hat on when talking to an individual (about not feeding seagulls).’

They decided to ask the clerk Jason Roberts to work on appropriate wording for a bylaw which they will consider at their next meeting.