99 problems and the birds are one: Holidaymaker fined £80 after dropping ice cream in seagull attack

A holidaymaker has been fined £80 after he dropped his ice cream when he was attacked by a flock of seagulls.

The hungry birds went for Steve Higgins' Mr Whippy, knocking it to the floor.

Fearing further attack the 52-year-old left the rest of the cone on a grass verge before making an escape to his car.

Mr Higgins' holiday in Paignton, Devon, then took a further turn for the worse when an inspector issued him with an £80 fixed penalty fine for littering.

The parcel courier from Settle, North Yorkshire, then went to the police station where he was told he could appeal against the private environmental and civil enforcement company, 3gs.

Mr Higgins, who was visiting the seaside town on holiday with his 81-year-old mother, Joan, paid the fine but plans to appeal it.

A spokesperson for 3gs said: "We are satisfied that the fine was correctly issued in accordance with section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We cannot comment any further on individual cases."