A man is being hunted by police after he allegedly punched a seagull and stuffed it through a fence, leaving it with broken wings, in front of horrified children. The attack took place by the harbour in Porthleven, Cornwall, on Monday afternoon (July 13) after the bird reportedly tried to steal his food. A witness told CornwallLive: “This man brutally and repeatedly smashed a seagull against the wall of the Harbour View Café because it tried to steal some food. He then stuffed the seagull through the fence onto the road, where it floundered with two broken wings. This was in front of numerous people and children who were hugely upset.”
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they are investigating. A spokesperson said: “We have been made aware following a report of a seagull being injured by a man by the harbour in Porthleven on the afternoon of Monday, July 13. It was reported the suspect grabbed and punched the seagull leaving it injured. Enquiries into the matter are ongoing. Anybody with any relevant footage or information is asked to call 101 or visit our website quoting 50260183379.”
“Police hunt man who punched seagull in Cornwall; 149 homes approved in Nottinghamshire.”
In Nottinghamshire, up to 149 homes are set to be built in the former coal mining village of Stanton Hill after the Planning Inspectorate approved an appeal by Countryside Properties (UK) Limited, which operates under parent company Vistry. The developer had tabled initial plans for land at Stubbinghill Farm, off Brand Lane, in early 2025. Ashfield District Council failed to determine the application within the relevant timeframe, prompting the developer to lodge an appeal earlier in 2026. Previous proposals for 142 homes in 2020 and 141 homes in 2022 were both thrown out over concerns of “significant harm” to the character of Brand Lane and the wider area, as well as fears of “further encroachment” into the countryside and “significant volumes” of traffic without improvements. The council repeated these concerns for the current proposals, but on Thursday, July 9, the Planning Inspectorate approved the development.
The plans are at the outline stage, meaning further detailed proposals – including the precise layout of homes – will be submitted later. The Planning Inspectorate concluded the development would “preserve the character and appearance of the area” and the character of the wider landscape, with illustrative details suggesting appropriate house density, landscaping, outdoor space and drainage. It noted: “The details also show the creation of a green corridor around the public footpath running through the site, which would help to soften the visual impact of housing to either side. I am satisfied that a suitable layout and overall design could be achieved at reserved matters stage.”
Access to the development would come from the existing entrance to the farm on the site, which continues in a straight line from the end of Brand Lane. Planning documents note that Brand Lane can have “considerable levels” of on-street parking, effectively turning part of the road into a single carriageway. A traffic study indicated only a “modest increase” of traffic from the development, stating that drivers may have to wait for oncoming traffic to pass through the on-street parking, but that this is an existing scenario.
