Sellafield gull cull mulled

Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant is considering a cull of gulls which could have come into contact with contaminated waste.

A spokeswoman for Sellafield told the Beeb: "Contamination is particularly evident within the historic facilities such as open fuel storage ponds, which gulls can access, although there are a number of measures in place to prevent them from doing so easily.

"Monitoring and analysis has shown that the contamination is at such a low level that it poses no threat to health."

The plant already employs a pest control company to deal with gulls, rodents and other pests. Nesting material and food is removed from the site to discourage wildlife.

The larine menace will be dealt with in a "safe and humane" way, a spokeswoman said. This could include using drugged bait and pricking eggs.

The gull carcasses are stored on site ®.