Radioactive seagulls face cull

A cull is being considered of gulls which may have become contaminated with radiation from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria.

Bosses say some birds may have got into open spent fuel storage ponds and become contaminated by low-level waste.

Sellafield Limited has stressed any contamination is so low that it would not pose a threat to public health.



However, the company is to consider methods to control bird numbers around the site. A company spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the potential for gulls to become contaminated with low levels of radioactivity as a result of the operations at Sellafield.

"Contamination is particularly evident within the historic facilities such as open fuel storage ponds, which gulls can access, although there are a number of measures in place to prevent them from doing so easily."

The company said a specialist firm had been brought in to undertake the work in a "safe and humane" manner that would cause the gulls minimum distress and suffering.