EVERY morning for the past few weeks, this herringull has been a visitor to the garden by our flat at Victoria Square Penarth.

It struts around as though it owns the place, indifferent to cats, cars and the students on their way to Stanwell school.

It sits on the wall gazing up at the house like a burglar sizing up the joint prior to robbing it.

This morning it made its first sortie: to grab a bite of breakfast. Had the window been fully open it would have enjoyed a boiled egg and ry-vita and left me with nothing.

As it was, he could only gaze in reproachfully, return to its station on the wall and plan its next move.

Alan and Pam Armstrong

Penarth