Roger the guard gull keeps the peace protecting businesses from food-stealing rivals in exchange for prawns.
The bird has become a familiar sight around Salcombe, Devon, after being rescued as a chick by shop owner Mark Khoury.
The town attracts affluent city dwellers, tourists, and celebrities who frequent the area and is dubbed Chelsea-on-Sea, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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Mark, who owns the Salcombe Yawl, Driftwood Deli and Normans of Salcombe, first encountered Roger around four or five years ago after the young bird fell from his nest outside the shops.
Mark said: “He fell out of his nest and I took him under my wing five years ago.
“He’s been here ever since.
“We put him in a box and put that in a shed at the back.
“When he started flying he got caught on some seagull wires and some hooks.
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“I got the ladder out and brought him down.
“Hence how we can identify Roger, because he’s got two holes in one foot and one in the other foot.
He said: “He goes backwards and forwards to keep all the other seagulls away.”
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Mark said Roger’s services don’t come cheap.
He said: “I usually charge £1.40 per prawn.
“And he gets fed four prawns a day.”
Salcombe town councillor Steve Frame has been impressed by Roger’s abilities.
He said: “We have plenty of seagulls and we have our issues as all seaside towns do – but not on this street.”
The bird has even become a holiday attraction for children visiting the town.
“The kids come down on holiday and ask for Roger,” Mark said.
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