A woman has been fined more than £1,500 for feeding the birds after the meat and bones she left out for them in her garden caused a rat infestation.

Animal lover Lorraine Riordan, 56, from south Wales, was hauled to court after her neighbours and a primary school complained about large numbers of rats.

A court heard the rats were attracted by her persistent feeding of wildlife in her garden.

Riordan has been put under a criminal anti-social behaviour order - or 'crasbo' - and could face jail if she overfeeds the birds again.

A primary school, an equine business and neighbours near Riordan's home in the Amman Valley, Carmarthenshire, reported many rats attracted by the 'continued accumulation of bird food' in her garden.

Riordan had also been seen by witnesses leaving meat containing bones on public land, actions which may have risked the safety of local dogs and other animals.

A court heard that the council had previously served an abatement notice on the defendant which she did not comply with.

Riordan, of Tairgwaith, Ammanford, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to comply with a prohibition order issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

She was fined £744 and was ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and a £296 victim surcharge.

Riordan was also placed under a two-year criminal behaviour order, which has restrictions designed to prevent the defendant from feeding birds in public places, and to place restrictions on how she feeds birds in her garden.

A court order detailed exactly what she can and cannot do in relation to feeding birds, including how many bird feeders she can have in her garden and how often she can fill them.

The financial penalties and two-year crasbo were imposed at Swansea Magistrates Court following a prosecution by Neath Port Talbot Council's environmental health team.

Under the terms of the order Riordan must: feed birds only by using purpose-designed bird feeders located within her garden. The feeders must not be modified in any way; ensure that any feed spilled or dropped beneath or around the feeders is removed at least once every 24 hours; store all food items in sealed containers when not in use; and ensure that the bird feeders are kept in good repair to minimise spillage.

And she must not feed or provide food for any wild birds - including but not limited to seagulls, pigeons, or other avian species - in any public place or on any land (public or private) within 1.5km of her home address, save for the use of the bird feeders.

She also must not deposit, scatter, or leave out any food items - including but not limited to seeds, grains, bread, meat, or other animal products - in any public place or on land accessible to the public whether for the purpose of feeding animals or otherwise. 

Also under the terms, Riordan must not: encourage or permit any other person to do the acts described above on her behalf within the same area; place food directly on the ground within the garden of her home address; use more than two bird feeders within the garden of her home address at any time; and replenish the above bird feeders more than once a week.