ENVIRONMENTAL health officials have urged visitors to a popular park not to overfeed the ducks amid fears leftover food has attracted a colony of rats.

The plea was made by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, which has blamed excessive feeding of ducks for an upsurge in the number of rats around the pond in Brough Park, Leek.

Deputy council leader and environment portfolio holder Arthur Forrester said: "It is clear that rats are scavenging for bread and other food left lying around. Therefore, it is important that visitors only put out as much food as the ducks will take there and then."

Resident Ed Goldstraw, of West End, Leek, said he had been "shocked and disgusted" to spot a colony of rats by the duck pond.

He said: "It is overrun with these filthy animals and it was obvious that they have been there for sometime. When I stood and watched, one walked towards me without any fear.

"I think it would have come right up to me had I not stamped my foot when it was about four feet away.

Chairman of the Brough Park Friends' Group Margaret Lovatt said she had been very alarmed by reported sightings.

She said: "I have heard it from several people and I have asked for some positive action from environmental health services.

"There has always been the odd rat spotted occasionally and you cannot get rid of them 100 per cent, but this year they do seem to have been more noticeable.

"I would like to see something done and something done pretty quickly to allay people's fears."

Mr Forrester played down fears of serious disease risks caused by rats.

The council has ruled out the use of open poisoning techniques to control the vermin, but is drawing up other plans in ways that would have no public impact.

Mr Forrester added: "People could be upset at the sight of dead or drowsy rodents, and this is something we want to avoid.

"While people tend to find rats unpleasant, they are a natural wild animal that multiplies in direct response to human activity. Therefore, the controls are in our hands – and one of them is to avoid overfeeding the ducks in the park."

Residents in Leek are growing concerned about rats, which they blame on fortnightly bin collections.

Rick Martin-Bacon, of Junction Road, is campaigning for the re-instatement of weekly collections.

He said: "The number of rats has increased nationally since fortnightly collections were introduced. I am concerned about health, but the council seems more concerned about recycling."

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