Natural England allows Ipswich business to cull herring gulls

However, such licences can be granted only “once all other avenues have been explored”, which Rosie Catford did not believe happened in this case.

The founder and director of the Wildlives Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, in Essex, said gulls were nesting on rooftops more and more due to a reduction in natural nesting sites.

She added that her team would have been able to safely retrieve the birds from the roof of Sulzer and release them into a more suitable place had they been asked.

“Why do we have Natural England to put these protections on vulnerable species if they can just annul the licence for somebody to go and shoot them?” she said.

“I can’t really find words to describe how I felt [when I saw the video]. My stomach dropped and it just beggars belief.

“Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Once they’re dead and their babies are dead, they’re dead. I can’t understand for one minute why a licence was granted.”