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One devoted postman has been attacked by the same vicious seagull so many times that he has been moved off that particular round.

A collections driver of 10 years, who Royal Mail have prevented us from naming, has been 'dive bombed' by the angry seagull every day for the last four weeks and said it has left him feeling scared and vulnerable.

The 40-year-old dad has been left with no other choice but to swap collection point pick ups with a fellow colleague in a bid to escape the seagull after believing the wild bird is victimising him on purpose.

Royal Mail says the incident could have been more serious and has since taken steps to ensure staff are able to collect mail from all our postboxes in the area "without risk of injury".

Seagulls are well known as scavengers, often seen rummaging through bins to get the food they desire, and sometimes swooping down to grab an ice cream or pasty from your hands. But the hard-working postman wasn't expecting to be attacked for simply doing his job within metres of the bird.

He told Plymouth Live: “Whenever I went to the railway post box, which has been every evening for the last four weeks, he would attack me – he's even chased me around the platform before.

(Image: Penny Cross)

“One of my other colleagues has to go there now and they’ve not had any problems since – it’s just me?

“I asked my manager to come down with me because we thought it might be my red shirt, but he was in one too and the seagull didn’t even react to him, he just kept staring at me.

“He was even swinging his keys and making noises to attract him but nothing made him react how he does to me."

The worker claims he wasn't even drawing attention to himself when he approached the red post box at the entrance of Plymouth train station before being set upon by the seagull.

“I would creep up quietly and understated," he recalled, "but every time he would just come out of nowhere and dive at me, waving his legs around. Luckily he hasn’t hurt me, but I am worried to go there now."

The whole experience has left the postal worker anxious to approach the train station at all, as each and every time he admits feeling "embarrassed" at what passersby witnessed.

(Image: Penny Cross)

He said: "Last time the taxi drivers there were laughing at me and it was pretty embarrassing. Another man sat waiting for someone said he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. I’ve never really liked seagulls but he’s a big old bird; it is a little scary really.

“I think it’s because he recognises me now and he’s protecting three babies in a nest."

Seagulls are protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is illegal – except under licence – to take, injure or kill any wild birds or interfere with their nest or eggs.

The maximum penalty, if found guilty, is six months in prison or a £5,000 fine.

Unfortunately Royal Mail would not allow Plymouth Live to use the video the postman had taken of him approaching the box and being squawked at by the gull as the company was worried that he was "knowingly putting himself at risk of injury".

(Image: Penny Cross)

But the video clearly showed the seagull homing in on the man while he collected the post and aggressively shrieking at him.

Royal Mail spokesperson Sally Hopkins said: "The safety of our people is paramount to Royal Mail. Our postmen and women can experience difficulties out when delivering or collecting mail due to swooping attacks by seagulls.

"These kinds of attacks can occur at this time of year as the gulls are nesting and rearing their chicks. We have taken steps to ensure our people are able to collect mail from all our postboxes in the area without risk of injury.”

Seagull attacks in the South West

In previous years, seagulls have proved a problem when postman have been delivering post to homes. In 2010 it was reported that 20 seagulls had been swooping down on people, including postal workers, in Berry Drive, Paignton.

They had been causing problems as they defended their chicks which had dropped to the ground from nests on the roofs.

Royal Mail said at the time that it was "committed" to delivering to people's addresses, but "occasionally might not be able to due to the attacks".

(Image: Penny Cross)

Young Thomas West was the victim of a seagull attack in the city centre last year. He was enjoying a doughnut whilst walking past Tesco in New George Street when the bird swooped, followed by four more.

The youngster was left covered in blood and had to be taken to the Cumberland Centre for emergency treatment.

His parents said at the time that they had been contacted by several others following the attack claiming that one aggressive gull in particular was terrorising innocent pedestrians.