A MOTHER of a three-year-old boy who had to be pulled to safety after falling in the pond in Victory Park, Barrowford, has urged the council to make the area safer.

Saika Sabir, of Thomas Street, Nelson, is relieved that her son Hamad Butt escaped injury or worse when he slipped into the water but she said it is about time some kind of safety measures were put in place to protect youngsters who go to the water's edge to feed the ducks.

Hamad, who is now too frightened to return to the park, had been throwing food to the ducks with his grandfather Afzal Butt when he lost his balance and toppled over the edge.

Saika said: "As soon as you mention feeding the ducks to him now he gets worried.

"There's a quite steep slope to the pond and then a two-metre wide flat area to stand on to feed the ducks. There's no railings or anything to hold on to and I think there needs to be a fence of some sort so that children can feed the ducks safely.

"It's so dirty and smelly as well.

"My dad was standing right next to him when he fell in. Hamad started floating away and went under the water once but by then my dad had gone in after him and managed to drag him out.

Hamad's auntie Saima Abbass said: "Hamad could have drowned if my dad hadn't and pulled him out."

Nobody from the council was available for comment.