A chip shop worker has started putting on a giant eagle outfit to scare off seagulls.
Corey Grieveson, 18, pockets £200 a day prowling the harbour for Mister Chips in Whitby – North Yorkshire’s destination for all things fried.
But it’s not always plain sailing for Corey as the crafty gulls take ‘revenge’ by pooing on his car every day.
He says tourists are delighted they can eat their chips in peace and like to take pictures with him in his costume.
‘I feel like a bit of a celebrity,’ he said. ‘I just charge at the seagulls when I see them.
‘I also have to look out for them going near people, and when they do, I run at them and get them away.
‘I’ve had gulls hit me on the side of the face with their wing before, then they’ll get down, take your food. They’ll do it so quickly that you just don’t expect it at all.
‘It’s quite frightening, especially for the older generation, if they’re walking along having some chips.
‘And at the moment, they won’t leave my car alone. I clean it every day, and when I come back, it’s covered in seagull poop. I think they are trying to get their revenge.’
Corey, who starts work at 6am, said grateful holidaymakers are more than happy to reward him for his unique service.
‘I once made £72 in tips in one day,’ he said. ‘It was a wedding party, and there were seagulls all over trying to get to them.
‘And I went over, did my job, and they said: “This is for doing that and looking after us!” There were maybe about 50 people.’
Alex Boyd, co-owner of Mister Chips, said seagulls have become a massive problem over the years.
‘It’s just got worse and worse and worse,’ he said. ‘I tried putting out big fake eagles on sticks, but they just get wise to it. They knew it wasn’t a real bird. They’re really clever.
‘So I spoke to Corey, and I said “Would you fancy working in the shop through the winter, and in the summer, being a full-time seagull scarer?”
‘Corey has quite a bit of banter with customers. When they come and speak to him, he will make bird noises back. He says: “I don’t speak english, I speak eagle-ish.”’
Seagull deterrents appear to be having a bit of a moment lately, with Blackpool Zoo also hiring one following a spate of thefts.
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