They have become a seaside menace – dive-bombing tourists, pecking passers-by and stealing food out of beachgoers’ hands.

Seagulls are such a problem that even the Prime Minister wants to start a ‘big conversation’ about a recent spate of attacks on humans.

But one council insists it can’t ban people from feeding them – because it would go against some religious beliefs.

Aggressive: But one town has decided not to crack down on seagulls for religious reasons

Feeding seagulls is thought to encourage them to swoop down on unsuspecting humans.

But bosses at Conwy County Council, in North Wales, have claimed banning it could breach anti-discrimination laws.

In an online discussion with other councils Jim Jones, head of tourism and leisure, tweeted: ‘We looked at the issue of fines, but were told it’s their right to feed birds within some religions.’

One campaigner, who supports a cull of gulls, said: ‘This is preposterous. Councils are making all sorts of excuses on why they won’t deal with the herring gull problem and this is the most hilarious.

‘It is utter poppycock for them to claim they can’t do anything for fear of breaching anti-discriminatory laws and they are fools to say it.’

Another said: ‘Pets have been viciously killed by flocks of birds. Does it take someone to lose an eye before the Government takes any notice?’

The feeding of birds is not a religious edict in any faith, though many individuals do it on a day to day basis.

Followers of Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism are all encouraged to care for animals.

Earlier this month a Yorkshire terrier was pecked to death by gulls in the garden of his home St Columb Minor, Cornwall. It is thought the birds felt threatened by the family pet.

The dog managed to escape to the kitchen but was found by owner Emily Vincent, 36, in a pool of blood and he was later put to sleep.

A week later Jan Byrne, 43, found her pet tortoise, Stig, on his back with a gull gorging on him in Liskeard, Cornwall. The tortoise died two days later.

Resort: Llandudno has been plagued with seagull attacks on locals and tourists in recent months

There has been a 50 per cent decline in herring gull numbers over the past 30 years, and they were given the highest conservation priority in 2009, with urgent action deemed necessary to protect the species.

HOW SOME FAITHS ENCOURAGE THE FEEDING OF WILD ANIMALS Some followers of both Hinduism and Judaism regard it as their duty to feed wild animals due to their interpretation of the scriptures. Deuteronomy 11:15 reads, 'I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied' - which many Jews take to mean that they must feed their animals before themselves. Believers also point to the example of Noah's Ark, where the patriarch took care of every species of animal. In Hinduism, some schools of thought hold that helping an animal can help improve a person's karma or even make their astrological signs more favourable. Advertisement

Devon and Cornwall Police warned that the protection covering herring gulls includes the birds, their nests, eggs and chicks. Shooting or poisoning gulls carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and six months in prison.

But MPs have already called for a change in the law which would mean seagulls would no longer have protected status and their numbers could be culled.

Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, has referred to the birds as ‘flying rats’ and has reportedly called for them to be sterilised.

Last night Conwy Council admitted it had never received any formal advice relating to religion and the feeding of birds in the borough.