Seagulls may be getting drunk on leftover alcohol left on South West beaches.

And when firefighters were called to rescue one seagull it was reeking of beer after it fell off a roof, was too drunk to fly and then promptly threw up all over them.

One theory is that early morning scavenger gulls find half-drunk plastic cups left lying around by revellers from the night before. But the RSPCA is not convinced that is the cause.

(Image: Richard Austin)

A crew of six firefighters were called by the RSPCA to rescue a seagull behaving erratically in the Westcountry. When they arrived the bird had already fallen off the roof and was sitting shaking its head.

The gull was taken to the RSPCA HQ at West Hatch near Taunton in Somerset where staff said they already had three others all waiting for release.

(Image: Richard Austin)

Firefighter watch manager Virgil Turner was called to Lyme Regis with his team and said: “When we arrived he had already fallen off the roof, he was sitting shaking his head and he then tried to fly and he nearly hit me in the face, I caught him and he threw-up all over me and he reeked of beer.”

The gull was taken to the RSPCA HQ at West Hatch near Taunton in Somerset where staff revealed they already had three others all in the ‘Drunk-Tank’ waiting to sober-up for release.

It was initially thought the gulls had been scavenging and found half drunk plastic cups left laying around from the night-before revellers.

But a spokesman for RSPCA West Hatch said they have almost certainly ruled out the theory that the gulls are drunk on leftover alcohol, as birds had been regurgitating a pulpy brown substance.

He said: “They are getting in such a state that they are almost unconscious. People have been taking them to the vet, who has thought they were on their way out, so some of the them have been put to sleep.”

He added: “I’m almost positive it is not that they are drinking beer left on beaches as they have all eaten a substance that they have brought back up.

“Our suspicion is that it is a by-product of the brewing process, as they all seem to have eaten the same thing.

“We are looking at possible brewery sources, but we really don’t know where it’s coming from – but I certainly don’t think it’s that they are drinking from pint glasses.”

Another theory is that the gulls get 'drunk' by feasting on annual Flying Ant Day. This is because it’s been reported seagulls have been “getting drunk” after feasting on flying ants.

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Last year, scores of seagulls were seen congregating in Brighton across roads, caring little for the cars hurtling towards them. They were also spotted stomping the ground in parks hoping to tuck into their favourite snacks.