Posties should be given ‘hard hats’ to protect them from seagulls according to residents who have stopped getting mail due to attacks.

Households have stopped receiving post due to attacks by the birds and have now called for postal workers to be issued protection.

Swooping seagulls are reportedly attacking postmen and women in a Cornish town and desperate residents are appealing for solutions - such as issuing the workers with 'hard hats'.

They have now been advised not to blame workers for delayed mail but the birds, who are a protected species trying to protect their young.

Householders in Liskeard have even received a letter from the Royal Mail warning them that postmen have been having 'difficulties delivering mail safely' - because seagulls have been swooping towards them.

So residents have been given two options: either wait for another time when seagulls are not in nesting season, or choose another address for their mail to be delivered to.

Royal Mail assured customers they would be "monitoring the situation on a daily basis".

It said: "As you may be aware, we are currently experiencing some difficulties safely delivering to you and your neighbour due to seagulls in the area, swooping at delivering staff in order to protect their young.

"The purpose of this letter is to firstly advise you of the issues we are experiencing but also to assure you that we will continue to attempt deliveries every day.

"Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause but whilst Royal Mail is committed to providing a consistent daily delivery to addresses, we do place the highest priority on the safety of our employees."

Seagulls are said to be swooping on postal workersSeagulls are said to be swooping on postal workers (Image: Ian Palmer/SWNS)

But frustrated residents have taken to social media to suggest ideas and express their thoughts on the situation.

One wrote: "Issue the post people with hard hats! After all, they don’t need to have anymore excuses for them being late with the post. Get little as it is and normally lots altogether."

Another said: "I reckon the seagulls have stolen our postie."

Others have been quick to criticise the Royal Mail, as one resident wrote: "So I assume it's also the seagulls that have been stealing the missing mail we've not received for months?

"Total shambles of a service."

Another wrote: "Rare they are they are not, aggressive they are. They made a woman's lips bleed the other day as they stole her pasty."

Others were saddened by the hate towards the animals - arguing Cornwall is renowned for its wildlife.

One woman said: "Cornwall would be a sad place without our native seagulls.

"Sadly, I see cretins who drive at them at speed and want them gone, along with many other of our wild creatures of which so many are in decline.

"We are fortunate to have them living alongside us.

"My advice.....If you don't like the wildlife don't live in Cornwall."

Another stated humans are the problem, not the gulls: "I don't like the gulls but it's the humans that are the problem i.e. feeding bread to the gulls."