Residents in areas where bin bags are at risk of being attacked by seagulls can now apply for 'gull-proof' bags.

It's the time of year when seagulls are at their most active and scavenging for food.

Recently, residents have been waking up to the sight of ripped bin bags and rubbish strewn down the street on collection day.

While most Dorset residents have wheelie bins to keep their rubbish and recycling in, some households can't accommodate the containers due to a lack of room or safe place to leave them outside.

In these cases, the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) provides hard plastic boxes for recycling materials and blue plastic bags for rubbish. But for those who live in coastal areas, the bags are easy for seagulls to get into.

Now, the DWP is offering free gull-proof bags to protect residents' rubbish.

A DWP spokesman said: "While it is the householder's responsibility to keep their waste contained securely between collections, in areas where these blue sacks are vulnerable to attack by gulls, residents may request a gull proof bag in which to protect their rubbish on collection day.

"These are reusable heavy-duty sacks that residents can put their blue bags into when putting their rubbish out for collection."

Dorset residents who put their rubbish outside in blue sacks, and live in areas susceptible to seagulls, can request a free gull-proof bag from the DWP by e-mailing enquiries@dorsetwastepartnership.gov.uk or calling 01305 221040. Weymouth and Portland residents can pick up a gull-proof bag from Weymouth Town Council offices in Commercial Road.

The spokesman continued: "Residents who do not have wheelie bins are also reminded that rubbish or recycling of any kind should never be put out in black bin bags as it will not be collected.

"The DWP also encourages people to use the weekly food waste collection service, which will help keep food out of the rubbish making it less enticing to gulls and vermin."