An East Belfast dog walker has added 'duck walking' to her list of skills after helping a mummy duck to safety with her ducklings.
Ciara Bingham, 45, said she spotted the brood in the middle of the road as she was leaving one of the pooches she exercises home.
It is understood they got a separated for a time but were soon reunited thanks to the efforts of Good Samaritans - and then ushered away from the busy Newtownards Road, where they were heading.
Lead On Pet Services owner, Ciara, told Belfast Live: "I couldn't believe my eyes. I was dropping the wee dog back and I was just meant to be there at that time.
"I saw them and this other lady in Ormiston Crescent was waving frantically from the other side of the road.
"The mummy duck and the wee ducklings were just waddling across the road, so I stopped my van and put my hazards on made sure that traffic was stopped to get them across to a safer area.
"They all just followed the wee mummy and I just kept shooing her over to the side of the road to get her onto the safer side and she went into a house, into the garden.
"We knew that there was a big garden behind and she would be safe in there.
"I think she may have come round from Ormiston House but it was not something you would expect to see in East Belfast when you are doing your normal day.
"It added a bit of excitement. My clients were a laughing and they were saying 'My God, have you started to walk ducks now?'
"All animals are not a problem but I don't think I would find a small enough harness for 12 baby ducks.
"They were so cute. It was lovely. It made the day a lot nicer."
Others from the area said they spotted the mummy duck when she had become separated from her babies.
One man posted on Nextdoor: "Onlookers managed to get the babies rounded up into a cardboard box whilst trying to attract the attention of the mother duck which was flying frantically overhead looking for her brood.
"I last saw the group of helpers heading towards the Ormiston House direction where presumably they came from. Hopefully a happy conclusion."
