CONCERNS have been raised about an increasing number of seagulls in Belfast with reports that some people have been attacked by the menacing birds.
The birds have been swooping in and killing pigeons as well as scattering litter around parts of the city.
Among one of the recent incidents reported was up to 20 low-flying gulls striking cars in the Ormeau Road area.
One motorist who was travelling along the route wrote on social media that the issue needed to be addressed.
"Coming up Ormeau Road, 1.15pm, must have been at least 20 seagulls, car height back and forth across the road," he said.
He warned that motorists need to be on the "look out.... could cause an accident very quickly".
A resident in the Holyland area of south Belfast also described how waste being dumped in the area was causing an increase of the birds gathering.
He said it was a "health hazard-encouraging rats and seagulls".
In some of the attacks by the seagulls reported in the city, the birds have flown down to devour the pigeons they have just killed.
A Twitter user described how she had witnessed "a seagull eat another pigeon twice in one day" in Belfast.
All species of gull are protected under legislation in Northern Ireland, which makes it illegal to intentionally or recklessly injure or kill any of the birds aswell as damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEARA) was asked if concerns had been raised about an increasing number of seagulls, but it had last night not responded.
