Concerned residents and shop workers spent an hour rounding up a mother duck and her ducklings after they were found roaming the streets.
The mum and her 12 ducklings were found outside shops in Kingsgate Avenue, Birstall, at about 3pm on Tuesday
James Bryan, owner of TJ Cycles, in Birstall, said he was repairing a bike when a woman living in a house a few doors down from the shop asked for help in rescuing the ducks.
James, 22, of Thurmaston, said: "When I first saw them they were outside the shop and sitting in between the bikes.
"We tried to pick them up, but they kept trying to go over the road.
"They were all running in the middle of the road and in people's front gardens."
James said they had to stop quite a few cars to rescue them.
"They would have more than likely been hit by a car," he said.
"The lady had quite a big bucket to put the ducklings in so they could not get out and we caught the mother duck and put her in a blanket.
"I caught two ducklings, one of our customers caught the mother duck and the lady and her daughter caught the rest.
"We caught the 12 ducklings first, but the main duck was the hardest to catch.
"We then put them in a car and took them to Watermead Country Park."
Graham Grewcock, 47, of Birstall, who caught the mother duck, said: "It flew over my head and I managed to grab its feet and I brought her down to the floor. We then wrapped her in a blanket.
"I have kept owls myself, so I have handled birds before.
"We were really pleased that she was back with her youngsters."
Angela Downham, animal carer at Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital, said it was not uncommon to see ducks inland.
She said: "Ducks go inland to have their babies.
"The ducks feel safe there because there is not anything likely to get them.
"If they have them at the side of the water the rats will take the young duckling eggs.
"It is more than likely she has come from Watermead and gone inland to have her babies.
"But once they have hatched, within 48 hours, they need to be taken to water. If they have crossed busy roads to go and have their babies they do get themselves into trouble."
She said the passers-by did the right thing by rescuing the duck and ducklings and taking them to water.
Angela said: "If they look like they are in danger, it is good to collect them up."
To contact Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital, call 0795 1285 366 or e-mail:
info@leicesterwildlife hospital.org
