Ducks cause traffic chaos in village - residents

Collier Street locals say ducks have been causing traffic chaos during peak times

Motorists are being forced to take evasive action as "thousands of ducks" run amok in a Kent village, local residents have said.

While unknown where the ducks have come from, residents of Collier Street have erected signs to warn drivers to watch out for the itinerant birds.

Kate Graves, owner of Willows End Tea Room, told the BBC that the ducks had been waddling around outside her business in Green Lane in large numbers.

"They often appear during peak hours in the morning and evening. Sometimes I see about 50 of them walking together at once," she said.

"A lot of drivers are swerving to dodge the ducks. Green Lane is a very narrow road and it's extremely dangerous.

"There have been some animal fatalities already, and we're concerned about a pile-up on the road."

Ms Graves added that she had set up a competition calling for residents to help create warning signs for the road.

Royan Graves, Kate Graves and Jody Cooper are concerned about the large number of ducks

The Amazing Animal Encounters sanctuary has also urged drivers to take care, adding that the situation was "not improving".

In a post on social media, the business said: "The ducks are not penned and can access the road through the local system of brooks and streams, and this is causing problems for road users.

"We witness the day in, day out chaos on the road here. As part of the local community, we need to step up to help keep road users and ducks safe."

Collier Street residents are installing warning signs to drivers to take precautions

Local resident Jody Cooper said she hoped there would not be a traffic accident as the road linked Marden's industrial estates to Yalding.

"It's a country road with blind bends and potholes, so there are accidents anyway. And the ducks aren't going to help it at all," she said.

"The vehicles either slow down and cause traffic jams or keep speeding along and then have it swerve dangerously to avoid the ducks."