A ROW has erupted between a Waterside council and environmentalists who claim ducks are threatened by a hovercraft rally this weekend.

More than 100 animal-lovers signed a petition left at various locations around Fawley calling on support for the ducks ahead of the annual three-day event in Gang Warily, which starts today.

Duck campaigners claim nests are at risk from disturbance. However, the parish council has hit back with its own notice pointing out there is no evidence of ducks being "killed, injured, displaced or driven away" by hovercrafts racing across their pond.

The poster, also published on the council's website, adds: "So why the petition? Sorry, we don't know!"

The Hovercraft Club of Great Britain's national racing championships is being held at Gang Warily Recreation and Community Centre, off Newlands Road.

It features some of the best hovercraft racers in the world battling against each other.