RESTAURANT bin bags are being targeted by gulls during the night.
The orange Gloucester City Council bags are used by restaurant owners across the city but are often attacked by the gulls.
Nizam Uddin, who owns the Jewel in the Crown Indian restaurant in Westgate Street says the eatery leaves its bin bags in the street overnight.
He said: "We do leave the bin bags out but we ensure no mess is created.
"I put cardboard around the bags to prevent the birds from attacking them."
Last year the restaurant received a letter of complaint about its rubbish. But Mr Uddin put measures into place to ensure it did not happen again.
He said: "We only put one bag out at a time for the bin men to collect. The bags are placed at the front of the restaurant because the bin men do not come round the back to collect it."
It is believed that the gulls are attracted to greasy, smelling. spicy foods.
Soman Joseph, owner of the Hilltop Indian restaurant, in Worcester Street, places his rubbish in big bins.
He said: "Our restaurant has a large bin at the back of the building, which is used for all rubbish."
Mr Alam of Shahi Balti in Westgate Street said: "I come especially to the restaurant after dropping my children off to school to put the bin bags out for the bin men to collect.
"This is so the seagulls do not come for them and make a mess. Gulls will go for anything."
Other business owners have complain to Councillor Pam Tracey (C, Westgate) about the situation.
She said: "A few weeks ago I decided to take a piece of bread out of the bag firstly to prevent the gull from pecking at the bag but also to see if they would go for it, which they do."
A council spokesman said: "The city council is working with traders in the gate streets to find a solution to this problem, one of which is to ensure businesses do not put their bags out for collection until the morning it is due as well as looking at alternative methods of collection, including bird-proof bags and central collection points."
