A CONTROVERSIAL cull of ruddy ducks - including hundreds in Wigan - will cost a staggering £1.4m.

The European Union has set aside the money to fund the killing programme on Pearson's Flash in Wigan and other waters in the north west and Midlands.

An investigation by the United Kingdom Independence Party - UKIP - has discovered that the cash has been allocated by Brussels as part of a programme attempting to eradicate the `feral' chestnut-coloured birds which are threatening the globally endangered white-headed duck in Spain by breeding with them.

Despite growing protests from animal rights activists, an increasing number of the ruddies - accidentally released into the wild in Britain by naturalist Sir Peter Scott in the 1950's - have been killed by marksman from environment ministry Defra.

This included 40 adult birds being killed at Poolstock Lake on Pearson's Flash before Christmas and 24 last month.

The birds are not protected by the closed season for wildfowling which began at the start of last month. The species was originally brought to Britain from North America.

The cost of the five-year long eradication programme, s due to finish in two years, was revealed by UKIP party leader Nigel Farage in questions to the EU Commission about grants being paid to conserve the white-headed duck.

Chairman of Wigan UKIP Alan Freeman said because of the £6bn Britain contributes annually to the EU, Wigan taxpayers were helping to pay for the slaughter of `our indigenous ducks.'

He said: "There is a lot of anger across Wigan that these ducks which are not causing problems in this country are being slaughtered."

And council opposition leader Peter Franzen, who has led the fight in the town hall against the cull, said: "I find this figure, if correct, absolutely astonishing. I have never been convinced that a case has been made for shooting the ruddy duck and as far as I am concerned this money could have been spent so much more usefully on wildlife conservation schemes across Wigan rather than targeting a species which really isn't doing any harm." The flashes are owned by Wigan Council and the cull was ordered at the request of the Spanish government.

Britain ordered the nationwide cull in 2003 and this moved to Wigan flashes - lakes - last year.