Orphaned ducklings rescued after mum is run over

The ducklings lived in Howard Park in Glossop

Nine orphaned ducklings have been rescued after their mother was run over by a car.

The duck, called Moscow, was killed as she checked it was safe for her ducklings to cross a road in Glossop, Derbyshire.

She was trying to move them to a safe place for the night, as there was not enough space on the island in the middle of their pond in Howard Park.

Nearly all the ducklings from her last two broods were killed by cars or dogs.

Tanayha Marshall, who is known as the Bird Lady of Glossop because she rescues so many birds, caught the ducklings with the help of four other women from the town.

'Pecking his feet'

Speaking about the mother duck, she said: "She passed away trying to protect them, it's unbelievable.

"Luckily enough she wasn't with her babies, it was her going checking if the road was clear for the babies to cross.

"It was definitely a speeding car that hit her. There was a van that stopped to help.

"When the guy was picking the mum off the road the ducklings were coming up to him to say 'What are you doing with my mum?' and pecking his feet."

Moscow (top), a Muscovy duck, was killed when she was hit by a car

Moscow was killed on Monday and her nine ducklings were rescued on Tuesday.

She originally had 12 ducklings, but Ms Marshall said one was hit by a car and two were "savaged by a dog in the park".

It was Moscow's third brood. Only two ducklings survived from her first, and none survived from her second.

"The last litter all got killed on the road, that's why she had a clutch so late in the season, because she lost all her babies," said Ms Marshall.

The rescued ducklings will now be raised by Ms Marshall.