Council officers rescue family of ducks from predators

Magpies and seagulls had set their sights on the vulnerable ducklings in the grounds of the Civic Centre.

Eagle-eyed council staff however were on hand to come to the rescue and give sanctuary to the traumatised birds until the RSPCA arrived.

Facilities officer Stacey Randall, handyman Derek Slater and receptionist Alex Randall worked together to shield the young chicks and gently placed them into ventilated boxes.

Alex Randall watched over the birds that had been safely caught while one remaining chick evaded rescue attempts.

Mrs Randall said: “Alex was keeping them safe and warm in the ventilated box as advised over the phone by the RSPCA.

“But one final duck wouldn’t come near us, despite all three of us trying with boxes and buckets to try to capture it.

“The RSPCA officer then arrived with a net but couldn’t quite reach the final duck out of the Lord Mayor’s Pond.”