RSPB asks High Court to stop Ribble Estuary gull cull

15 May 2014 Last updated at 02:19

A government decision to cull gulls near a Lancashire airfield has been challenged in the High Court.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ruled in 2013 that a cull in the Ribble Estuary could go ahead after concerns were raised by BAE Systems about safety at Warton.

The RSPB's David Forsdick QC told the hearing in London it could undermine European conservation directives.

A Defra spokesman said the gulls were impacting on air safety.

BAE said a reduction in the population of lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls was necessary because of fears over birds being sucked into the engines of jets taking off at the airfield.

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