Vicar forced to wear hard hat to church to protect himself from seagulls

It is not traditional garb for a man of the cloth. But Rev Canon Graham Minors has been forced to don a bright yellow hard hat to protect him from two new additions to his flock.

The vicar has to rush through his churchyard in order to avoid the attentions of a pair of angry seagulls diving down from the heavens.

The fearsome birds perch on the church roof and swoop down on unsuspecting members of the congregation and even mourners in the graveyard.



They began their aerial onslaughts after setting up a nest and raising a chick in the grounds of St Petroc's Church, in Bodmin, Cornwall.

The over-protective animals now regularly stand guard of their fledgling by perching on top of two ancient stone crosses on the roof of the 15th Century church. They then fly and flap their wings at anyone who approaches - swooping just above their heads to scare them away.

Rev Minors, 63, says the attacks have become so fierce he has been forced to don a hard hat every time he enters or leaves the church. He said: 'It is very scary because they're really quite large and powerful birds that could deliver a nasty peck if they got the chance.'

Update: There's a news video here.