EXPERTS say feeding ducks bread is like feeding your children ‘junk food’.

For many years families have been enjoying visiting their local ponds with bags of bread and thought they were being environmentally friendly.

But instead new research by the Canal and Rivers Trust shows in actual fact we are killing them with kindness.

Ecologists say the problem with bread is that it has no nutritional value in it for birds.

They will build up fat and it leads to all sort of problems, including deformed chicks.

Also if it is left uneaten it can cause a build-up of bad nutrients, which sparks greater algae growth, spreads disease and encourages rats.

It can also lead to over-crowding as birds flock to feeding hotspots in search of their starchy treat.

Instead of giving bread the charity said we should give natural treats such as oats, corn, or peas.

So to safeguard our duck population families across the country and the UK need to change our years’ old habits.

A pastime enjoyed by the young and old alike, grandparents and parents need to pass the information down to the children.

If we start setting good examples now in generations to come giving peas to the ducks will be common place.