HEROIC residents have been praised after helping to save a family of ducklings.

Wychavon District Council's dog warden, Pip Singleton, has thanked people who helped save the feathered family after they fell down a drain in Waterside, Evesham.

The mother and her seven ducklings were waddling along the road when two of the ducklings fell down the drain.

After being flagged down by passers-by, Pip and a group of people managed to save them and take the family back to the safety of the River Avon.

She said: "All of this proves that, despite what some pessimistic people say, not everyone will walk past an incident without lending a hand.

"This has helped to affirm my view that people in this area are kind and public-spirited. There is no way I could have dealt with this without their help.

"They all deserve a medal."

Those who have been praised include a schoolboy who held his nose and put his hand down the drain to rescue the birds, and a lady who put them in the bottom of her pram - unfortunately the baby was asleep and missed the whole event.

Another man helped catch the mother duck and Wychavon councillor John Payne, of Swan Rescue, gave advice over the telephone.