I WAS fishing in a competition on the River Ouse below the A64 bridge on Sunday when I gradually became aware there were no ducks in the river.

This is most unusual for at this time of year food is scarce and the ducks usually flock to the anglers, knowing they will get morsels of bread, maggots and worms.

Talking to other anglers after the match, no one else had seen a duck. There has been an influx of otters to this area of river over the past year.

I wonder if this has moved the ducks away or, worse still, have the otters eaten the ducks or their chicks?

Richard Gaunt, Austhorpe Drive, Leeds.