Young ducklings are being killed by a plague of rats which has infested the lake island in Herne Bay Memorial Park.

Families who visit the pond to feed the ducks have seen the “brazen” vermin attacking the birds to get at the bread thrown to them.

A family of four young ducklings has been almost wiped out and yesterday only one remained, seen swimming beside its mother.

Mum Kaleigh Daniel, 21, who visits the pond regularly with her three-year-old son Logan, says the rats are becoming an increasing problem.

She said: “There just seems to be more and more of them and I have seen them actually attack and drag a chick into the undergrowth on the island.

“It’s so sad because the little ducklings are so helpless and have to put up with being bullied and attacked by seagulls too.”

Kaleigh, of Station Chine, Herne Bay, is studying mechanics at Canterbury College with partner Ryan Rowe, 19.

He said: “We come down here regularly with Logan and always see the rats. They are quite brazen and don’t seem to be frightened of anything.

“It doesn’t seem healthy to allow them to thrive and something needs to be done about it because it’s getting out of control.”

The pond is regularly visited by families feeding the ducks and model boat enthusiasts.

One hobbyist who did not want to be named said: “There have been rats on the island for years but the population does appear to have gone up.

“The trouble is that so many people feed bread to the ducks, that there is a lot left over and the rats are thriving on it.”

City council spokesman Rob Davies said a pest control officer will be sent to the park to investigate the reports.

He added: “We have baited in the vicinity of the lake before, but we have to be very careful to do this safely and in a way that does not cause harm to humans or other animals.”