Woman fined £75 for feeding ducks in park

A mother out feeding the ducks with her young son was given an on-the-spot fine by a park warden. Vanessa Kelly was in Smethwick Hall Park, in Smethwick, West Midlands, when she was approached by the warden and given a £75 fine for littering.

The warden then told Ms Kelly her son could continue to feed the ducks as he was too young to be fined. Sandwell Council defended the fine, saying Ms Kelly was not in a designated feeding area.

Ms Kelly was fined on Tuesday. She said: "I just stood there in shock. £75 and for feeding the ducks?



"They were eating the bread as quick as I was throwing it."

Councillor Mahboob Hussain, the council's member for neighbourhoods and housing, said there had been so many complaints about the feeding of pigeons and waterfowl, a designated area had been created for feeding them.

The penalty notice would be reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days, he added. Ms Kelly has not yet paid the fine and said she planned to contest it.