The curious case of the sexist seagulls is disrupting the mail in a quiet Somerset village. Gulls are divebombing postmen but, to the bemusement of bird experts, appear to be content to let female posties past.
After one man was knocked off his bicycle and another left sprawled in the road, a women-only team was drafted in to ensure the mail got through in Highbridge, near Burnham-on-Sea.
The aerial onslaught began after the gulls' chicks were born. The gulls seemed to fear the postmen were endangering their young and began swooping from the rooftops.
Residents were warned to expect delays to deliveries as the postmen dodged the gulls.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: "It might sound funny but if you have a 2kg seagull divebombing you, it is a big problem. It is a real health and safety risk to our employees. We've had two guys who have been knocked off their feet, but when women go up there, we don't have any trouble."
The chicks hatch in late May and their parents tend to become increasingly aggressive towards late July and early August when they leave the nest for the first time.
But Peter Exley, of the RSPB, admits to being baffled by the sexist nature of the attacks.
He said: "We've heard of birds attacking people before but this is a new one on me - there is no reason why they would deem men more of a threat. Their sense of smell isn't good so it is difficult to imagine how they are telling the difference. Seagulls have attacked women in the past, so it must be a particular problem this group has with men."
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