BRADFORD Council has warned that scattering food in green spaces can attract vermin after a woman appeared to dump a large amount of chapatis in a park.

Pictures emerged of food waste being thrown onto the floor at Bradford Moor Park, in Killinghall Road, last Wednesday.

Naz Kosar, a leading member of the Friends of Bradford Moor Park, shared photos in the organisation’s Facebook group - which has 1,300 members - that purportedly showed the offence.

She said the photos were sent by a fellow volunteer and they seemingly showed a woman arriving at the park with a personal trolley, taking out a large amount of the Middle Eastern bread, before nonchalantly dumping the items in a grassy area and walking off.

The chapatis formed a visible mound (pictured).

Ms Kosar said she feels let down and it seems residents are not listening, despite the group's hardwork and door knocking to help inform people.

She said: “When seeing the pictures, it is very disheartening as the volunteers have worked hard to clean the park on a regular basis, as well as promote and deliver health and wellbeing programmes.

“So, it is imperative that the park is kept user friendly for all ages and is a pleasant experience for all those visiting.”

Many people responded in anger to the photos on social media.

One person likened the act to fly-tipping, while others said they had tried to inform people about the issues with feeding the ducks and birds in the past.

Another said, “it’s like banging your head against a brick wall.”

Ms Kosar said, there are signs around the park which warn against feeding ducks and animals there and implore people to take their rubbish home.

The concern is leaving food waste around could lead to vermin infiltrating and Ms Kosar said there has already been a rat infestation at the park, in the past.

She added: "We have lots of takeaways leftovers, that's why we're fighting for cameras.

"Local people saw a van come and dumped leftover takeaway.

"Local people have seen rats in there.

"You see a full meal sometimes in the park."

"When people approach them, sometimes it can get confrontational.

"Despite signs going up in the park, people are choosing to ignore.

"What we want the council to do is to take it seriously and fine.

"I don't know if there's not enough evidence, or not enough man power.

"There's no consequences for the actions."

A spokesperson for Bradford Council said: “We would strongly advise people not to scatter any food for birds as it attracts vermin to the location, the Council will issue £100 fixed penalty fines to people who persistently feed birds in public open spaces.

“If residents have concerns about rats they can report them to the Council either online at www.bradford.gov.uk or telephone by calling 01274 431000.”

The Friends of Bradford Moor Park group hosts litter pick days every month usually and the next "Clean Funday" is actually this Sunday.

Volunteers like Ms Kosar are working tirelessly to make the park a nice place to be, to help support mental health and wellbeing.

She said: "Green space is very important, especially with the lockdown.

"You don't want to go refresh your mind and be sat next to chapatis or food."