DUCKLINGS which hatched far later in the year than usual have been rescued from the streets of York.

Mallards usually lay eggs in the spring, but Annette Pyrah of Selby Wildlife was called to the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall in Fossgate this weekend to reports of recently hatched ducklings in the street.

Their mother had returned to the Foss. Annette collected the four remaining ducklings and took them to Selby Wildlife, where they will remain under a heat lamp for the time being before being released into the wild in the spring.

Annette said: “On Sunday, Christmas shoppers were amazed to see the tiny ducklings wandering along the road in Fossgate and I was called out to collect them before they were squished.

“They would have been doomed because it’s far too cold for them and they get picked off very easily by hawks and cats so I think they would have died.”

Annette said the mother duck could have been fooled by a number of warm days this autumn, and decided to have another brood, but the chances of the ducklings surviving at this time of year would be very slim indeed.

• If any readers spot other unseasonally born or hatched young creatures in need of help, they should phone Annette on 07803 180720 or visit selbywildlife.co.uk