Going quackersto save ducklings

Ducks saved by Sainsburys staff and members of the public in Cleveleys last week. Picture by Sarah Holland

Staff from Sainsbury’s Local on Victoria Road West teamed up with well-meaning passers-by to save the family of ducks after three of them fell through a grate covering a drain outside the shop last week.

Sainsbury’s manager Sarah Holland, 32, said: “We were in the store at the time and one of our customers came in and said she’d seen a female duck in the road looking very distressed.

“Victoria Road West is really busy so we went across and had a look. Two of her ducklings had fallen down a grate.

Picture by Julian Brown 03/05/17

Thornton-Cleveleys Sainsburys Local manager Sarah Holland and Lucy Cross who saved a family of 15 ducks after two ducklings fell down a drain, pictured at the shop — Picture by Julian Brown 03/05/17 Thornton-Cleveleys Sainsburys Local manager Sarah Holland and Lucy Cross who saved a family of 15 ducks after two ducklings fell down a drain, pictured at the shop

“One man ripped the grate off and we got the ducklings out.

“We had to stop the traffic and walk them across the road and get them onto the grass.”

The family of 15 ducks were believed to have travelled a short distance from the pond between Holmfield Avenue and Knowle Avenue.

Sarah said: “God knows how she had managed to get here without getting squashed. We ran into the shop and got a big blue box and put the ducklings inside, but the mother duck was too distressed.

“She was getting more and more upset so what we had to do was walk with the box of ducklings with the mum on the pavement following behind.”

The ducks were returned to the pond by Sainsbury’s staff member Lucy Cross, 21.

She said: “She heard the little tweets they make and she kept following behind. It took about 20 minutes.

“They went straight back on the pond after the mother coaxed them out.

“Everyone came together to help and it puts your faith back in the community. Even when I was in the middle of doing it there were people joining in and trying to get them rescued. It was really heartwarming.”

Sarah said: “It was lovely because everyone stopped what they were doing and focused on helping the ducks.

“We could see that the mum was in distress and needed help and saw the traffic flying by, so it was easy to see what could have happened.

“A lot of people have mentioned the large amount of ducks in the area. It might be worth going to the council about doing something for them, even if it’s just putting up a few warning signs for drivers.”