IT'S been nice weather for ducks over the past week, but not so nice for this tawny owl chick, which wildlife artist Robert Fuller found soaked to the skin.

Robert, who runs a gallery at Thixendale near Stamford Bridge, said five chicks had been trying to fledge and had been hopping around on branches outside their nestbox for the last few days.

"I have been drying them out in the gallery and will be putting them back in the nestbox but I do hope it is not going to continue to rain for too much longer.”

In fact, the weathermen had good news last night for Robert and anyone else hoping to get out and about in coming days.

Brighter, drier weather was arriving today, with the possibility of sunny intervals and only isolated showers over the weekend, although there could be rain again by Sunday night.