DUCK ramps have been installed in the pond in Warminster Park to keep ducklings safe in the summer.

The installation of the wooden ramps was a joint project between Warminster Fencing and Warminster Town Council, which took over ownership of the park from Wiltshire Council in December.

Craig Clifford and Mark Whatley from the fencing company donned their waterproofs and went for a paddle in the pond to install the ramps on Friday afternoon.

Lisa Clifford, director of Warminster Fencing, said: “The town council have been carrying out work in the park for a while and earlier this year they worked on the edging of the pond.

“The ramps have been installed so that the ducklings are safe from herons and swans in the summer.

“Ducklings can find it very difficult to get up on to dry land but these ramps will help them do that."

Now that the ramps have been introduced, pipes are also going to be installed to give the ducklings somewhere to hide if they are attacked by predators.

Warminster Town Council clerk Heather Abernethie said: “It will be great for the ducklings to have better protection in the summer.

“For years people have come to us and said they find it quite upsetting seeing ducklings being attacked and that we should do something about it.

“Because the park was previously owned by Wiltshire Council we weren’t able to do anything, but now that it’s under our control we could and we were very pleased to do so.

“Thank you to Warminster Fencing for carrying out the work.”