Woman to fight fine for feeding ducks

Vanessa Kelly, 26, and her son, Harry, were feeding bread to the birds Tuesday in Smethwick Hall Park when a town warden approached, The Daily Mail reported Thursday.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when she then pulled out a little computer and started to issue a ticket," Kelly said. "Harry was still throwing the bread though and the warden told me he could carry on as he was too young to prosecute."

Town officials told The Mail the feeding attracts rats and encourages ducks to wander into the park and defecate, causing children to slip on the duck mess on their way to school.

"This park has a major problem with Canada Geese and people living nearby feel intimidated by the large numbers," City Councilor Mahboob Hussain said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.