Residents near a landfill site are facing an ongoing nightmare as seagulls bombard their neighborhood, dropping animal bones from the sky in scenes reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic The Birds.
Frustrated homeowners say they can no longer enjoy their gardens for fear of being hit by bird droppings and have even stopped hanging out laundry due to the sheer number of gulls circling overhead.
The situation has also taken a financial toll, with at least one business suffering thousands of pounds in losses after seagull waste ruined valuable stock.
The landfill, operated by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK in Altham, Lancashire, serves multiple borough councils for household waste disposal. However, residents say the growing number of birds has made life unbearable.
Gary Hough, founder of the campaign group Tipped Over The Edge, estimates that around 5,000 gulls swarm the area during summer. “It’s getting worse all the time,” said the 62-year-old. “I’ve lived here for nine years, and it’s never been this bad. We can’t sit outside, our cars and furniture are constantly covered in bird waste, and I’ve even found lamb and chicken bones landing in my garden.”
Rob Ross, manager of Greengate Builders Merchants, revealed that seagull droppings have damaged stock, making some items unsellable. “It’s not just unsightly—it’s a hygiene issue for our staff. Customers expect clean products, and we’ve lost a lot of money because of this,” he said.
Julie Birtwell, 63, echoed the frustration, saying she can no longer enjoy barbecues or leave her washing out. “Last week, my Cocker Spaniel fell ill after eating something a seagull dropped in my garden,” she added.
Longtime resident Brian Atkinson, 73, believes the problem has worsened as the landfill expands closer to homes. “The gull population has surged since COVID-19—they find a food source and stay,” he said. “While I understand the frustration, if you buy a house near a landfill, you have to expect this kind of thing.”
Others argue that more should be done. Rhian McGhee, another resident, described the smell from the landfill as “disgusting.” “We can’t open our windows or enjoy our gardens because of the birds and the stench,” she said. “This town is being overrun by seagulls, flies, and rats, and nothing is being done.”
Hough and his campaign group are calling for household waste dumping to be suspended and relocated to Farington Waste Tip in Leyland, which they believe is better equipped to handle the volume of trash.
For now, residents remain trapped in a daily battle with the relentless gulls, desperately hoping for a solution.