A pond under construction has been labelled "a dangerous pit" amid fears aired about children and dogs becoming trapped in its sludge.

Conditions left by contractors at The Glen, Minster-on-Sea, have been labelled as "appalling” after one youngster had to be helped out of the mud bath last week.

The 22-acre recreation park on Sheppey is popular with dog walkers and ramblers, and is owned by Swale council.

However, part of it is in the process of being dug up, with work having started two weeks ago to remove sediment which has deposited in the pond’s channels.

Resident David Kelly, who works as a construction consultant, insists the work has led to a treacherous and deep two-metre deep basin being formed, which is now filling with water as a result of heavy rainfall.

The 67-year-old said: "It's a lovely space for walking, especially in the summer, and there's always families having picnics.

"But about two weeks ago I was walking this dog and saw this big digger going in there, and since then we've just been left with a big hole and basin.

"Of course more stuff is going in the hole now with all the soakaway which is coming from the park and roads nearby.

"One guy I spoke to said his child drove his push bike down there the other day, but couldn't get back out.

"In the end, somebody else saw him and had to help put a branch down to pull himself out.

"It's a dangerous pit – the site is like a big drain now, so you could fall straight in given how wet and slippery it is.

He added: "Obviously if the heavens keep opening suddenly, it will completely fill up.

"I don't even think an adult would have much success in getting out if they fell in because of how seriously deep it is.

"I'm not taking my dogs anywhere near it either because of how dangerous it is".

The pond, which has been at The Glen since the 1960s, is still in the process of being given an £11,000 revamp – which was confirmed two years ago.

Cllr Elliott Jayes (SIA, Sheppey Central), who is also chairman of Minster-on-Sea Parish Council, said: "The works on the pond were paid for by Swale council, as the landowner of the Glen, and undertaken by Blenwood – the council's ground maintenance contractor.

"The money came from the council's coalition special project fund and was allocated a few years ago.

"The pond has been dredged to remove excessive debris and organic deposits (mainly from the tree leaves) - the tree canopy has also been cleared to allow light in.

"As far as I am aware it didn’t need pumping out as, until the works started, we had dry weather.

"There is still some work to do at the site including installing benches next to the pond.

"These works were carried out after an ecological report was carried out on the pond.”

Back in 2021 Cllr Jayes described the pond as “neglected”.

However, he believes improvements would “help support the pond’s wildlife, improve biodiversity, and make it an inviting space for people to enjoy”.

Mr Kelly, who lives in Kent Avenue with his partner and two dogs, believes not enough warning signs have been placed at the site to alert people of its dangers.

He explained: “The site has been dry for months now and is more like wetland than a pond.

“The last time it had plenty of water before now was probably at the start of this year.

"But I'm appalled by the way this work has been left.

"It just feels like because it's in a park and not in everybody's face, people are acting like they can get away with leaving this great big hole here.

"It's just mad what is happening given there are also no signs or notices that I've seen, let alone any barriers around it.

"It's not lit in the dark either so you would just fall in, especially with pathways which come through the woods onto it as its sides are really steep.

"I have sent emails on October 10 to the safety unit of Swale Borough Council and Minster Parish Council, explaining my concerns, along with photographs, but have not received a reply.

"There's a possibility of someone being seriously hurt".

A Swale council spokesman said: “The work done to the pond at The Glen was to remove silt and reduce tree cover, increasing water retention during drier periods and is key for improving biodiversity.

“The work took four days, with some further work planned to refine the banks and landscape which will improve the safety of the area.

“The pond will refill naturally over the coming months and the vegetation will start to recover in the spring.

“We ask that people visiting the pond walk with care while we undertake this important work.”

Blenwood declined to comment.