TAUNTON'S seagulls were in the dock accused of murder most fowl 10 years ago.

'Killer Seagulls' screamed the County Gazette's front page at the start of March 2013.

Wildlife lovers in the town were gearing up for a fight against hoards of ‘killer’ seagulls.

The previous summer, the unpopular birds had killed dozens of ducklings in the town’s iconic Vivary Park, forcing replacements to be brought in from Secret World wildlife rescue centre at East Huntspill.

However, in 2013 bosses at Taunton Deane Council said they were hopeful new solar panels installed on the bowling club roof beside the stream in the park – and possibly a protective goose – would keep the pesky gulls at bay.

Pauline Kidner, of Secret World, said seagulls commonly eat ducklings, which can hatch in batches of up to 16 any time from April to November.

She added: “It’s possible they won’t hang around on a roof with solar panels as they’d find that unattractive so the ducklings could be safe.

"Geese are a very protective species and the one in Vivary Park is probably an older, single goose.

“If we get a goose that is appropriate for the park, then we’d hand it over to provide company for the existing goose.”

One park lover told the County Gazette: “It was distressing seeing the seagulls eat the baby ducks last year.

“They perched on the bowling club roof and picked the ducklings off.

“We’re hoping they won’t feel comfortable on the roof now because of the solar panels.”

A Taunton Deane Council spokeswoman said: “We hope the ducklings are allowed to settle in and the seagulls leave them alone this year.”

As well as eating ducklings, seagulls have blighted Taunton since moving inland some years ago with their ‘crimes’ including scavenging for leftover titbits in bins, dive-bombing anyone who gets near their young, using people’s heads as target practice when they have a call of nature and their incessant squawking.

In recent years the district council had attempted to reduce Taunton’s gull population by replacing eggs with dummy ones and oiling eggs so chicks didn’t hatch.