Homeowners call for posties to be given headwear after seagulls were blamed for Royal Mail delays

Posties should be given 'hard hats' to protect themselves from seagulls, residents have demanded after the birds were blamed for Royal Mail delays.

Households have stopped receiving post due to attacks by the birds and have now called for postal workers to be issued protection.

Earlier this year, footage emerged showing locals in a posh London neighborhood who were being attacked by violent crows.

Now, swooping seagulls are reportedly attacking postmen in a Cornish town and desperate residents are appealing for solutions - such as issuing the workers with 'hard hats'.

They have now been advised not to blame workers for delayed mail - but the birds, who are a protected species trying to protect their young.

Householders in Liskeard have even received a letter from the Royal Mail warning them that postmen have been having 'difficulties delivering mail safely' - because seagulls have been swooping them.

So residents have been given two options: either wait for another time when seagulls are not in nesting season, or choose another address for their mail to be delivered to

Royal Mail assured customers they would be 'monitoring the situation on a daily basis'.

It said: 'As you may be aware, we are currently experiencing some difficulties safely delivering to you and your neighbour due to seagulls in the area, swooping at delivering staff in order to protect their young.

'The purpose of this letter is to firstly advise you of the issues we are experiencing but also to assure you that we will continue to attempt deliveries every day.'

'Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause but whilst Royal Mail is committed to providing a consistent daily delivery to addresses, we do place the highest priority on the safety of our employees.'

But frustrated residents have taken to social media to suggest ideas and express their thoughts on the situation.

One wrote: 'Issue the post people with hard hats! After all, they don't need to have anymore excuses for them being late with the post. Get little as it is and normally lots altogether.'

Another said: 'I reckon the seagulls have stolen our postie.'

Others have been quick to criticise the Royal Mail, as one resident wrote: 'So I assume it's also the seagulls that have been stealing the missing mail we've not received for months? Total shambles of a service.'

One resident suggested a cruel idea that it would be best to shoot the endangered animals.

They wrote: 'Rare they are they are not, aggressive they are. They made a woman's lips bleed the other day as they stole her pasty, I accept humans feeding them are to blame for this aggression but I for one have no issue shooting them.

'If the do gooders don't agree then come to Cornwall and buy a pasty!'

Others are saddened by the hate towards the animals - as they argue Cornwall is renown for its wildlife.

One woman said: 'Cornwall would be a sad place without our native seagulls. Sadly, I see cretins who drive at them at speed and want them gone, along with many other of our wild creatures of which so many are in decline.

'We are fortunate to have them living alongside us. My advice... If you don't like the wildlife don't live in Cornwall.'

Others disagree with the cruelty towards the birds, writing: 'When people complain, saying 'Seagulls have been nesting on my roof for the last two years, this year was very aggressive, if a person attacks me I am allowed to defend myself but if gulls do you can't retaliate.

'No you can't, stop being such a big baby! What do you want to do to them anyway?'