Apology for duck feed jail threat

A council has apologised after threatening elderly residents with eviction and even prison for feeding ducks outside their homes.

Letters were sent to tenants at a sheltered housing complex at Alderson Court in Bridlington following complaints about bird mess in the area. They were told they were breaking their tenancy agreement by feeding the birds.

The letter from the council's housing department said feeding the birds was causing a nuisance to other residents.

It said: "We can also seek a number of legal remedies to prevent you from behaving in such a manner to exclude you from the locality.

"A breach of some of these can lead to a prison sentence. If you lose your home as a result of anti-social behaviour, we do not have to re-house you."

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said the letters were heavy handed and apologised for causing distress.