The district council imposes new regulations on what people can do in its public spaces

A ban on feeding seagulls is being introduced in West Dorset.

It is part of the district council’s new list of rules on how public spaces should be managed.

After consulting with residents the authority decided to keep the regulations on consuming alcohol in public largely the same, but the ban on feeding gulls is new.

Nearly 600 people expressed their views on how they would like public spaces managed.

Councillor Alan Thacker, Community Safety and Access Portfolio Holder for West Dorset District Council, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time and trouble to have their say.

“We looked carefully at the results and have tried to take a common sense approach, which aims to reduce anti-social behaviour still further and reduce the problem of aggressive seagulls.”

These new rules will come into effect on April 23.