GRAZING geese guzzling the grass at a Lake District tourist hotspot have got councillors in a flap.

Members of Windermere Town Council were due to come up with a solution to stop the birds nibbling away the vegetation on the Glebe at their meeting last night.

Councillors were expected to hear that they have already caused a lot of damage but it is feared they will spoil more of the area unless action is taken.

Concern has also been raised about the grazing geese leaving their droppings in the area where children play, potentially creating a health hazard.

Cllr Adrian Legge, of Bowness North, said: "The area next to the lake has lost all of its grass. The geese have eaten the very last blade.

"We know that South Lakeland District Council own the land so we have asked them what steps they are taking but we haven't had a reply yet.

"It is a worry for us all. Lots of local residents have written to me and to the town council about the issue."

One option that the council is considering to get the problem to take flight is that of using an ultra-sonic bird scarer, which can be operated from the back of a vehicle.

However, it is feared that this may merely move the geese and the problems they cause to a different part of the town rather than solve the issue completely.

Geese around the lake have caused problems in the past, when a highly controversial cull of Canada Geese was considered in 2012.

The reasons for the 2012 cull proposals were cited as: "damage to shoreline habitats, displacement of native species, farm grazing and crop land spoiled, pollution of public and private recreational land and public health concerns from pathogens, bacteria and parasites."

The proposed cull provoked a great deal of opposition at the time, and Windermere Town Council hope to use other methods to deal with the current problem.

SLDC were approached for a comment but had not responded by the time the Gazette went to press.