Orphaned ducklings hatch after eggs rescued

A couple came to the rescue of 12 unhatched duck eggs after their mother died.

James Carter, a chef at the G & Tea House in Great Ayton, near Middlesbrough, said staff were unable to raise help due to the Easter bank holiday.

Because Mr Carter and his girlfriend Stephanie Weeding collect tropical butterflies, they had heat lamps ready to create an incubator.

Over the past few days they have seen signs of life from the eggs and three of them have hatched.

Staff at the cafe were devastated when their resident duck died over the Easter weekend

Duck eggs can only survive a few hours without their mother and Mr Carter made the snap decision to bring all 12 eggs home.

Staff at the cafe, where the duck had become an unofficial mascot, were left "heartbroken" when she died and initially tried the RSPCA and other local charities.

Mr Carter says he took the decision to bring the eggs home as he had equipment to help keep them warm

The couple say they have been careful not to interact with the ducks

Mr Carter, 35, described how the couple planned to look after the ducklings until they were ready to live independently, before releasing them near to the cafe.

He said: "Several have shown signs of hatching and we have already had three out.

"We have gone out and bought a couple of things to keep them comfortable until they reach a more independent stage.

"We are trying to do this without giving them any interaction with us and that will mean they will imprint on each other."