Eastbourne Seagull Spends Entire Afternoon Following Family Holding Greggs Bag

EASTBOURNE — A local seagull has been praised for his patience after following the same family around Eastbourne town centre for almost three hours in the hope they might eventually drop a sausage roll.

The bird first identified the Greggs carrier bag outside the station before shadowing the family through The Beacon, Terminus Road and finally onto the seafront.

Witnesses described the pursuit as "remarkably professional."

"It never got too close," said one shopper.

"It just stayed about ten feet behind them."

"Like a debt collector."

The family initially believed the bird's appearance was a coincidence.

By the fourth stop, they had begun referring to it simply as "him."

"We didn't even question it anymore," said father Martin Cooper.

"When we stopped for coffee, he stopped."

"When we crossed the road, he crossed."

"I honestly think he knew where we were staying."

Local seagull behaviour specialist Diane Collins believes the bird had calculated that persistence would eventually pay off.

"They're incredibly intelligent."

"They know humans become significantly clumsier after carrying pastry products for more than forty-five minutes."

The family finally reached the promenade without dropping anything.

The gull flew away moments later.

Witnesses say he immediately began following another tourist carrying a Cornish pasty.

"It's just business," said one local.

"They don't take it personally."