Over my years at the Herald, I have seen endless debate on what noisy, dirty pests the gulls are on one side of the fence and 'they were here first, go back to London or wherever it was you came from' on the other.

There are those who understand seagulls are a part of living in a seaside town, and those who seem to feel intimidated by the birds giving them the evil eye and looking like they're about to mug them for their sandwich and their mobile phone.

There are many practical ways to take some of the nuisance value out of having a flock of seagulls as very near neighbours.

Bagging up any rubbish properly and making sure it's secure in your bin so the birds can't peck at it (or the foxes raid it) is important.

With the introduction of wheelie bins some years back, I have seen less of gulls fighting over rubbish in the street, which has helped take some of the sting out of the hike in the council tax.

Another idea is that if you live very close to the sea as I do, have plastic spikes put on your roof to stop the birds from nesting and blocking up your guttering.

A couple of years ago, my neighbours and I had to have some roof works done, and the gull deterrent went up as part of that.

Not that I'd want to deprive a seagull of her nest, but there are plenty of other places she can settle other than on my roof.

And if the dawn chorus gets on your nerves – invest in a pair of earplugs!

For my point of view, I quite like them in a put-a-sock-in-your-beak-you-loudmouthed-seabird kind of way.

Hearing their raucous cries and having them give you evil looks on the seafront (especially if you are eating) is a part of seaside life.

Imagine how empty the place would seem without them.