AT least a dozen seagulls have been found dead on the shores of Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor.

And it seems the cause of their unfortunate end may be that they were just too greedy.

The gulls have been discovered on several days over the past week but tests carried out by South West Water have confirmed that water quality is not to blame.

Instead, experts believe that the birds may have died after gorging on huge numbers of flying ants which have emerged early due to the current heatwave.

Some ants can produce formic acid, which can stupefy the gulls, leaving them drowsy.

A spokesman for South West Water said reports had been received from several sites apart from Wimbleball, including Wistlandpound near South Molton and Crowdy in Cornwall.

"We have sent two seagulls to the Environment Agency for testing for disease," she said.

"We have also carried out water quality tests at the reservoirs and algae levels are low.

"We believe this is a phenomenon of the current environmental conditions and not anything to do with our reservoirs."

The spokesman said, although there had been reports in Devon of 'drunk' seagulls being killed by cars after gorging on the ants, it appeared those at the reservoirs had died simply because they had landed on water in an extreme state of doziness.

Experts say that, although formic acid can be toxic to birds, it is more likely that they were just too hot and full.

Flying ants are apparently among gulls' favourite snacks, providing a tasty feast as they come out of the ground early in the morning and late in the evening.

The hot weather is said to have caused the ants to emerge at least a fortnight earlier than normal.