A GREEDY otter has left a Preston grandfather scratching his head for a

solution to stop the animal slinking into his pond to eat his fish.

Rex Walmsley, 70, of Black Bull Lane, Fulwood, has seen the fish stock

in his garden pond slowly depleted since October last year when an otter

took a fancy to his fish.

The grandfather-of-four and wife Sheila, 69, have spotted the animal

about half a dozen times and have found the eaten remains of their fish

by the side of their pond.

He now only has a couple of small fish left and wants to know how to get

rid of the beast before restocking the pond.

Mr Walmsley said: "The fish have been breeding in the pond for about 12

years, and there were about 50.

"I had netting up to stop herons getting in but the otter is a different

kettle of fish and has got through the netting.

"It's been getting a bed and breakfast at our house, but it comes and

goes so quickly I've not even managed to get a picture of it."

The retired manufacturers agent said he found his favourite fish, Oscar,

a Ghost Koi headless by the side of the pond a couple of weeks ago.

He believes the otter is getting to his pond via Cadley Brook which runs

through the bottom of his garden.

"It is down to a couple of tiddlers now, it's such a shame, I had some

Koi and big goldfish," he added.

"I want to know how to stop the otter getting in before I restock the

pond, my grandchildren loved seeing the fish on a nice summers day."

Conservation officer at the Wildlife Trust, John Lamb, said there have

always been otters in the higher reaches of the River Ribble that will

go up tributaries looking for fish.

"But I have never heard about otters going in to people's gardens

before," he added.