Seagull steals hospital visitor's handbag

A confident seagull stole a visitor's handbag at a Dorset hospital

A thieving seagull "sneakily" stole a visitors handbag say hospital staff.

The incident happened at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH), part of the University Hospitals Dorset, when a visitor left their bag with important personal items on a windowsill.

The seagull poked its head through the open window and quickly pinched the bag before anyone could notice.

Estates manager, David Carter managed to retrieve the bag from the hospital's roof.

David Carter retrieved the handbag and returned it to its rightful owner

After stealing the bag the seagull struggled to fly away and dropped it onto a roof before making a hasty exit.

Mr Carter said he was able to get to the roof with his ladder to retrieve the bag and return it to its rightful owner.

He said: "After being at RBH for 23 years, this is the first seagull theft I have attended."

A spokesperson for the hospital said "there is never a dull moment" and thanked David for "saving the day".