A beautiful summer day on the coast in East Devon can often be ruined by an unwelcome seagull heping itself to your refreshing ice-cream.
But councils in Exmouth, Sidmouth and Seaton believe they have come up with the answer to the age old problem of the food stealing gulls - bird-of-prey bouncers.
They are set to be deployed to scare seagulls away from the town centre's.
The three towns are taking part in a £15,500 project to hire a falconer for a one-year trial.
It is hoped the birds will deter gulls and pigeons and entertain tourists.
The move will coincide with a bid to urge residents and visitors to think about how they dispose of food waste which attracts gulls.
An application has been made for Parishes Together Fund cash available to councils who team up for community projects.
Sidmouth Town Council clerk Christopher Holland said: "All three towns have applied to use Parishes Together money to fund the management programme of using specially bred gull hawks to discourage gulls from nesting in the targeted areas.
"It's a new and novel approach but also a humane way of moving the gulls on."
