Fancy some ketchup? Then DON'T pull up a perch.

That's the message to some saucy seagulls - who are no longer interested in the odd chip, but the tomato ketchup that goes on them.

A few have been dive-bombing the remains of customers' plates in search of the sauce and even the ketchup bottle at the Le Cafe Ganmac in Sandgate Road, Folkestone.

Giovanni Ionnou, who runs the cafe in partnership with his dad Frantzeskos, said: "Our cafe is a popular place, but we can without any extra popularity from the air.

"Basically they're a bit of a pain and a nuisance. They seem to like ketchup more and once in a while walk in through the back door quite casually looking for a touch of sauce."

But Mr Ionnou feels there is a serious side to their cheeky behaviour.

"We clear our tables very quickly but you have to keep an eye on them.

"I do feel strongly about some people who throw food for them. If I was to throw an apple on the pavement, I could be fined for littering.

"Yet some members of the public are quite blatant about throwing down food and I certainly don't want to see ketchup become a street favourite. These birds are called seagulls for a reason. It's not a landgull."