Customers at a food truck on the Isle of Man were offered the opportunity to take out “seagull insurance” in case the birds “snatch” their snacks.

Hawkins BBQ said it introduced the £1-a-day meal replacement guarantee policy after noticing an increase in incidents at its coastal pop-up restaurants.

Co-owner Charlotte Smith said the outlet wanted “customers to be able to eat in peace.”

Money raised through the program will be donated to the Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT), which has described the initiative as “innovative and fun.”

According to Ms Smith, up to three customers a week are “attacked” during operations on the coast.

She said she decided to introduce the optional fee last week after being inspired by a Scottish retailer facing similar issues.

By raising funds for the local conservation organization, she hopes to protect the species, adding: “We don’t want to fight them, we want to live with them.”

“Even though they sometimes terrorize customers, they are part of our culture and we have to do our part and keep this ecosystem running.”

Herring gulls, which are a protected species on the island, are in decline and Lists of conservation concerns.

MWT chief executive Leigh Morris said he could “see no risk in the venture” and confirmed that all funds raised would be earmarked for the company’s seabird conservation program, which also protects puffins and black-billed shearwaters.

He said that after the island became urbanized, the seagulls had “adapted to the food and the environment around us.”

Since there is “less natural food” due to the severely limited herring production, the seagulls are “looking for food elsewhere,” he added.