FEARS have been raised that a duck pond poses a life-threatening risk to children in a Preston park.

Concerns about the pond, near North Lodge in Moor Park were first raised when a regular park visitor, Jo Bolton, of Blundell Road, Fulwood, complained the pond was very smelly and was littered with plastic bottles and carrier bags.

Jo reported it to local councillor John Collins who, on inspecting the pond, was also alarmed that safety railings around the pond ended just as they reached the children's play area -- raising concerns that youngsters may stray down to the water.

He said: "The lack of fencing presents a considerable risk to youngsters in the park. The pond was much worse than I imagined and there must be a great hazards to health, should a child fall into the water."

Jo said: "A lot of people have complained about the situation. It's disgusting. But you can't stop children going down to the water. They're always feeding the ducks."

The park's absence of any life-saving equipment such as lifebelts could increase the danger to children, she said.

A spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) said: "The council's main concern should be to make sure children are safe by securing fences. Lifebelts are only there as a last resort."

A spokesperson for the council's park services department said: "We are currently clearing the litter from the pond and it is council policy to fence off all children's play areas to keep dogs out.

"However, the fencing around the back of the pond is subject to investigation by the Leisure Services Department but it is not council policy to provide the park with life-saving devices. We do help as much as we can by putting signs up, especially in winter when the pond is iced over"