Hyndburn, Lancashire — A scene straight out of an Alfred Hitchcock thriller has left the peaceful town of Hyndburn in terror. A menacing flock of seagulls has descended upon the area, turning sunny days into a nightmare for the residents. The loud cries of these winged invaders fill the air, creating chaos and destruction reminiscent of the classic horror movie “The Birds.”
Locals have described the scene as “apocalyptic,” with up to 3,000 seagulls swooping down like vultures, causing havoc and leaving a mess in their wake. The residents’ horror and disbelief at this surreal invasion echo the spine-chilling suspense of Hitchcock’s work.
“The gulls are here about 7 a.m. and head towards the tip. They come in dribs and drabs but start to congregate,” said Gary Hough, 62, a resident. “Then from 8 a.m. onwards, that’s when the majority of them come, and it’s constant until around 9:30 p.m.”
The invasion began when workers at a nearby landfill filled a disused quarry with rubbish, attracting the scavenging seagulls from 30 miles away. Now, the seagulls bombard local houses, cars, and gardens with droppings, making outdoor activities nearly impossible.
Gary and his partner, Cheryl Gouldstone, 59, fear that the bird plague might devalue properties in the area. “It’s like an Alfred Hitchcock film. There’s visual and noise pollution, and people can’t believe this is going on,” Cheryl remarked.
The classic horror flick, based on Daphne du Maurier’s 1952 short story, focuses on unexplained violent bird attacks. In Hyndburn, the scenario seems all too real. “They set off pistol-like bangs to get rid of them, but all it does is scare them off in droves,” Cheryl added. “You can’t sit in the garden as it’s covered in bird poo. They’re dropping food in the gardens.”
Gary has set up a Facebook page where locals can discuss their concerns. He has also organized a public meeting with landfill operators Suez and local councillors next month. “There’s always been a bit of a smell and the odd bird, but it’s never been like this,” Gary said. “I have it on good authority there’s rats there. So, depending on where you live, you either have the birds, the smell, the rats, or all three.”
The Whinney Hill landfill operator, Suez, has implemented measures such as making loud noises to scare the birds, but Gary claims this only scatters the birds, causing more mess. Richard Phillips, landfill operations manager at Suez, stated, “We are actively working to deter the seagulls and minimize their impact on the local area. We are deploying every measure within our plan to mitigate the number of seagulls in the area.”
Local businesses are also suffering. Steve Pickup, 60, of Greengates Builders Merchants, said, “There’s thousands of them. It’s horrendous. Our staff can’t even go out at lunchtime and enjoy the nice weather. It’s a health hazard as much as anything. There’s that much bird muck, and the smell from the tip is quite pungent.”
Borough councillor Vanessa Alexander has raised the issue with Lancashire County Council and the Environment Agency, reporting more than 140 local complaints since July. “Part of the problem is the birds have nested; they’re not going away,” she explained. “The sheer amount of birds is horrific.”
John Neville of the Environment Agency acknowledged the distress caused to the community. “We have made it clear to the operator, Suez, that they must take steps to minimize the impact,” he said. “We’ll continue to carry out regulatory inspections of the site and will consider any appropriate enforcement steps to ensure the site is compliant with its environmental permit.”
As the community campaigns for more decisive action, the residents of Hyndburn remain trapped in a real-life horror story, waiting for relief from the relentless invasion of seagulls.
An alarming video captures the moment a town is overwhelmed by a “catastrophic” flock of around 3,000 seagulls – despite its location 30 miles away from the closest coastline.