A MOTHER duck and her brood had rail users in a flap when they became stuck in a drain at a Worcester station car park.

Firefighters used a crowbar to wrench off the drain cover at Shrub Hill station after the seven ducklings fell into the storm drain yesterday.

An eagle-eyed member of the public spotted the mother sat above her chicks, which had fallen three feet below the surface.

She quickly called in the RSPCA to try and rescue them.

But animal collection officer Steve Davies found he could not prise off the drain cover and called the fire brigade.

"Because of the tarmacing the drain cover was jammed," said leading firefighter Dave Smith of Red Watch.

"The ducklings were netted and we tried to catch the mother. She kept flying off but she was soon reunited with her ducklings.

"We get called out to quite a few ducks and swans but this was my first."

The family was released into the canal at Lowesmoor shortly after their rescue at 4pm.

"I'd like to pass on my appreciation to the fire brigade for their help," said Mr Davies.