VISITORS to Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge are being urged to stop feeding the ducks and leaving excess food on the ground due to a growing rat population at the beauty spot.

Members of the public have taken to social media with reports of a 'rats' nest' in the Norton park by Heath Pool and the News has received this picture showing six large rodents captured on camera at the weekend.

Dudley Council chiefs have said they are aware of the problem and Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley's cabinet member for public realm, said extra bins have been installed in the park to help curb problems with litter that could attract unwanted wildlife and she also urged people to stop feeding the ducks.

She told the News: “We have been making regular visits to the park to control the numbers as much as possible.

"We have also added eight more bins, with more on order, and increased the amount of times we empty them to seven days a week including Bank Holidays.

"We would also discourage people from feeding the ducks at the site as the excess food attracts the rats, particularly around the water edge.

"People should also be very mindful of dropping litter and leaving food on the ground in the park, which will also help reduce numbers further.”