Dad pulls kid out of class after seagull attacks him on playground but RSPB tell teachers ‘you cant move nest’
STEVE Young, 35, was set upon by one of the birds as he collected sons Cobie and Kyle from school
A DAD has removed his sons from primary school after he was attacked by a seagull in the playground.
Furious Steve Young, 35, was injured by one of the birds as it clawed the back of his head while he was collecting his two young sons from school.
The birds have nested in a patch of grass at Stranton Primary School in Hartlepool and Steve has said they are a danger to the kids.
He has refused to take sons Cobie Dent, five, and Kyle Dent, 10, back to school until the problem is resolved - but teachers say they are not allowed to move the birds nest.
Steve said: ";Since the school holidays in May there has been a nest in the playground with an egg in it and two adult gulls.
"Now the egg has hatched. The gulls have a chick and are attacking anyone who walks past. I was attacked on Friday and the bird drew blood from my head.
"I was just walking on the playground to pick my sons up from school when it swooped down and clawed the back of my head."
Steve says despite his complaints the school says they are unable to do anything as the birds are protected.
He said: "I think they need to protect the kids, rather than protect the birds.
"My son was crying and said he doesn't want to go back to school as he is fearing for his safety."
Stranton Primary School headteacher Neil Nottingham said they were unable to remove the birds as they are a protected species.
He said: "When we came back from the holidays at the end of May, we found these gulls have made a nest on the school site.
"We contacted Hartlepool Council and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) about the situation on June 6, but they have told us we can't move the nest, as they are protected.
"We have cordoned off the area and informed the parents of the situation advising them to avoid the area.
"We have not had any issues with other parents or pupils being attacked by the gulls."
A spokesman from the RSPB said: "We would advise the nest be left alone and people give it a wide berth, as birds are very protective of their young.
"Once the chicks are less vulnerable, the gulls calm down and become less protective."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368