Park duck feeding fine withdrawn

Vanessa Kelly said she would have taken the matter to court

A mother who was fined for feeding the ducks with her young son in the park will not now have to pay the charge.

Vanessa Kelly was in Smethwick Hall Park, in Smethwick, West Midlands, when she was approached by a warden and given a £75 on-the-spot littering fine.

The warden then told Ms Kelly her son could continue to feed the ducks as he was too young to be fined.

Sandwell Council, which at first defended the action, said it was now taking a "commonsense" approach.

When details of the fine, issued on 10 November, emerged the authority defended the action on the basis that Ms Kelly was not in a designated feeding area.

I won't be going back to that park again Vanessa Kelly

Ms Kelly said she was delighted at the change of heart.

The council's deputy leader, Darren Cooper, said the council would not pursue payment while signs were being improved at the park.

"The new signs will make it abundantly clear that feeding of waterfowl is not allowed at all in this park and that anyone observed feeding the geese and any other birds will receive a fixed penalty notice," he said.

Ms Kelly said she would have gone to court if the council had pursued the fine.

"I won't be going back to that park again," she added.