THE MAYOR of Worcester has offered a £100 reward to anyone who knows where his beloved pet duck may be - despite initial fears his feathered friend had fallen victim to a fox.

Coun Aubrey Tarbuck now believes his pet drake Henry could have been duck-napped by someone with a vendetta against him.

He hatched little Henry himself last year and he was left devastated when his pet went missing on New Year's Eve.

He originally believed a fox had snatched the duck from the back garden of his Moseley Road home in Hallow as his nephew and a local farmer had reported seeing one in the area at the time.

But now, after a suggestion from a friend, a distraught Coun Tarbuck believes the fate of the drake may not yet be sealed and someone with a grudge could have taken him.

"I had never thought of this before but when I searched my garden there was not a feather in site.

"I have had a couple of nasty letters from people who don't agree with things I have said as mayor so there could be a motive. Someone took that penguin from a zoo at about the same time so it is not impossible for someone to have taken my duck," he said.

Coun Tarbuck is now appealing to anyone with any information on Henry's whereabouts to get in touch in the hope that he will one day return safely home.

"Henry has only one eye from where a weasel attacked him and he has difficulty walking so he would stand out.

"We have searched the area and found no trace so I do think someone out there has him and knows where he is and I would urge them to get in touch as I loved that duck as much as my cats and am still very upset."

After it hatched he named the duck Henrietta, believing it was female.

But, a few months later he discovered that it was in fact male and so he changed the name to Henry.

l Do you know where poor Henry is? If so call the Newsdesk on 01905 742244.