A campaign to encourage people to live in harmony with seagulls has been launched to reduce the number of attacks.

Last year the RSPCA, which is running the campaign, received 1,957 calls about gulls in the South East.

One of the reported problems included the threat to seagulls of being shot for noise and mess.

Earlier this month, The Argus reported a spate of more than 15 cruel attacks in the Peacehaven and Saltdean area.

Since the article appeared, a further 15 incidents have occurred.

Roger Musselle of Roger's Wildlife Rescue in Woodingdean, said: "There have been about 30 attacks now in Peacehaven, Saltdean and Newhaven.

"These are just the cases we know about.

"There was one adult seagull I found the other day on a roof in Newhaven.

"She had been shot and lying next to her were her three babies.

"Two had died as a direct result of not having their parents and one was still alive, cuddling up against its mother.

"I have brought this one back here to look after."

Gulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, although licences are issued allowing some landowners to kill certain species.

It is illegal to do anything that will cause suffering to gulls.

There are also restrictions on the methods of killing. Poisons are prohibited under special licence.

The RSPCA has issued a set of guidelines for living in harmony with gulls.

These include putting edible litter in gull-proof bins, calling pest control or environmental health if people are worried gulls are nesting on roofs or blocking gas flues and staying away from chick gulls.