AN invasion in Buckfastleigh is driving some residents quackers.
Muscovy ducks have invaded the town's Millennium Green and what was a pair has quickly multiplied to between 15 and 20.
Some have taken to waddling into the town's main street and now action is to be taken to reduce the numbers.
Stuart Barker, a member of the Millennium Green Trust, explained that arrangements had been made for several of the birds to be relocated – some of them possibly to the Pennywell Farm and Wildlife Centre.
'One of the problems is that some people feed them and they are happy to have them around. The ducks get used to seeing people with food and think everyone is going to feed them.
'When families with young children go to the green for a picnic the ducks think they are going to be fed and can be frightening,' he said.
Mr Barker added that eggs laid by the birds had also been collected.
'There have always been Muscovy ducks in the River Mardle and they have moved downstream.
'A ramp had been built from the river into the orchard of the Millennium Green for safety reasons to make an escape route if anyone fell in or for the emergency services to enter the river,' he said.
The clerk of Buckfastleigh Town Council, Sarah Woodman, said she had received three or four complaints about the ducks and contacted Teignbridge Council.
'There were so many ducks they were becoming a bit of a pest and while some people like the ducks, I heard of instances where they were being aggressive.
'Some of them were also wandering up Fore Street and that was a hazard to motorists,' she said.
Mrs Woodman said she was told by the district authority that it had no powers to control the ducks.