THIS mother duck was probably tempted by the right address to set up home in Drake Road, Bovey Tracey.

The proud mum’s neighbour, Judith Swales, said: ‘When we came back from holiday at Easter my neighbour told me she’d seen a duck wandering about my garden.

‘It was only later that I spotted her nest under a bush, so I kept her fed and watered.

‘Three weeks later I saw that her eight eggs had hatched. And after a couple of days she must have decided it was high time to move on.

She’d flown away a day or so before, probably to find somewhere suitable.’

Concerned about the amount of traffic they’d encounter and worried about the newly-hatched ducklings’ chances of survival, Judith took on the role of safety marshal to keep them safe.

There then ensued a little caravan of mother duck, her tiny charges and some human assistance all around the Churchfields estate. For an hour they followed a roundabout route through neighbours’ gardens, tracking them under and around fences towards the main road.

On reaching Le Molay-Littry Way, the busy route into town, Judith, looking the part in a hi-vis vest, was ably assisted by neighbour David Mountain, where they created an impromptu traffic crossing.

‘It’s such a busy road now due to all the new houses and we were really worried. But with David stopping traffic one way and me the other we made sure they made it across safely.’

They were last seen heading across fields to their new home.

A relieved Judith said: ‘I thought it was so appropriate that of all places, she chose to make her nest in Drake Road!’