A MOTHER and her babies were saved in a dramatic town centre rescue during the half term holiday when a duck and her brood waddled into a busy bus lane.

The brace were spotted by anxious passengers after wandering into the path of oncoming traffic at Middlesbrough Bus Station.

Staff acted to save a mother duck and her ducklings which had wandered into the path of oncoming traffic.

Fearing a tragic end for their feathered friends, travellers quickly alerted security staff who sprang into action at about 1.30pm yesterday (Tuesday, May 27).

On-duty security guard, Andy Goodison, and cleaner, Christine James, swiftly rounded up the duck family away onto a pathway and away from the single and double deckers.

They were then put into a cardboard box and taken to the lake at Mima gallery of modern art near Centre Square where they swam to safety.

Bus station manager, Dave Brierley, said: “A bus or coach passing through the bus station would weigh around 20 tons on average so it’s fair to say the duck and ducklings wouldn’t have come off particularly well if they’d been hit.

“We do have notices up and announcements on the public address system reminding visitors to the bus station that going out before your bus arrives is dangerous - this has obviously been ignored.

“We’d like to thank the members of public who raised the alarm and are just pleased the story had a happy ending.”

Councillor Tracy Harvey, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “Staff at the bus station have a diverse range of issues to deal with on a day-to-day basis and never allow their feathers to be ruffled – whatever the challenge.”