TEN Christmas quackers have surprised a Belbroughton family by arriving six months before they were expected.

The feathery family of ducklings hatched last month, as the mildest autumn ever recorded even confused Mother Nature

Paul and Lesley Richardson, and their two daughters Holly and Georgia have been caring for their fluffy friends at their home in Bradford Lane.

The Richardson family, who have around 25 ducks on their pond, did not know any of them were nesting and were on holiday when the ducklings hatched.

Mrs Richardson said Holly, aged 12, and Georgia, 7, both pupils at Alice Ottley School in Worcester, have been helping feed the brood on bread and softened duck pellets as there are few insects around the pond.

She added: "We are getting through so much duck feed, they let us know when they are hungry by taking the short walk from the pond to the back door and giving it a tap."

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds spokesman Andrew South said: "This time of year this is extremely unusual, hopefully there will not be a prolonged cold spell following the milder weather we have had."

He added although it is unusual there had been other instances across the country including the hatching of a family of ducks at a zoo in Cornwall in November.