Ruddy ducks are to be banished from Sussex forever in a bid to save rare Spanish ducks from extinction.

A cull of the entire population of the ducks in this country is planned because the species is migrating to other areas of the Continent and breeding with the rare white-headed ducks, often found in Spain.

Ruddy ducks, which were introduced to this country over 50 years ago, have been seen on reservoirs across East Sussex, especially in the Rye area.

The Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs has been undertaking a trial cull in the West Midlands.

Now there are moves to cull 95 per cent of the remaining birds in a £5 million operation, the first bird cull in Europe.

Conservationists say the ruddy duck is breeding with the white-headed and causing their population to decrease.

An RSPB spokesman said: "If we do nothing, there is a strong chance the white-headed ducks will be extinct and as bird conservationists we cannot stand back and let that happen.

"We would like to see action taken to reduce the numbers of ruddy ducks in the UK.

"The important issue is saving a species from global extinction.

"There are thousands of the ducks in North America and the UK is not their native home."

An English Nature spokesman said: "The trouble is that ruddy ducks can travel long distances and can reach areas like Spain. They live alongside the white-headed ducks and inter-breed with them.

"But ruddy ducks are better able to survive than white-headed ones and their population begins to decrease to very low levels."