SOGGY bread uneaten by ducks is carpeting the bottom of an important pond at the St Ives estate near Bingley and threatening its natural balance.

Now, members of the Friends of St Ives are asking well-meaning folk to swap the sliced white for more digestible and dispersible treats when feeding their feathered friends.

"We reckon people are throwing about 80 loaves a day into Coppice Pond," said the group's chairman, Pam Laking.

"A fisherman actually counted the amount of bread going in and it's formed a thick carpet around the edge which you can clearly see through the water.

"Meanwhile, the ducks are bobbing around totally bloated and disinterested."

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She stressed the Friends was only offering gentle advice to encourage a change in feeding habits.

"We understand people have been feeding ducks with bread for years, but now we know its bad for them.

"Now there is a layer of rotting bread on bottom of Coppice Pond which is polluting the water which will affect the fish, all wildlife who swim and drink from it, and also the plants in and around it.

"Very importantly, Coppice Pond also is a site for the rare White British Crayfish which are now an endangered species.

"They live around edge of pond in the artificial homes created for them out of woven twigs and willow," she said.

Mrs Laking suggested people could bring such foods as oats, seeds or corn.