Looe is employing an egg oiler, whose job will be to coat the gulls' eggs with liquid paraffin.

The idea - backed by the RSPB - follows years of problems caused by the gulls.

The paraffin creates a barrier around the egg which sterilises it.

A lot of them have found rich pickings in the town and they do not bother to go back to sea at all Town clerk Colin Easterbrook

Town clerk Colin Easterbrook, said: "It is less intrusive than the previous method which was to sterilise the eggs by pricking them.

"This way the gulls do not realise their nests have been interfered with."

The council is appointing a contractor whose job will be to climb up onto roofs where the gulls have their nests.

Mr Easterbrook said: "The problem has come to a head in recent years.

"A lot of them have found rich pickings in the town and they do not bother to go back to sea at all.

"The gulls attack people and foul people and they go through bin bags. They really are a nuisance."

Super-bags

The egg oiler will start work in the spring and continue throughout the nesting season. Chicks that hatch will be left alone.

The council is also considering the more expensive option of supplying townspeople with double-lined bin bags to thwart the gulls feeding.

The idea is being tested this year in the Cornish port of Mevagissey.

Mr Easterbrook said: "The best option would be rubbish bins, but properties in many Cornish seaside towns are not designed for bins.

"The hills are too steep and they fall over."