A SMALL addition has been made to a familiar landmark in a city's student college campus sector.

The new 'hall of residence' was a well-guarded secret until it was unveiled to mark the 40th anniversary of Durham University's Van Mildert College.

College porter Kevin Stephenson, a keen handyman, built the new duck house to provide safe nesting for newly-hatched ducklings alongside the college lake.

The lake, an eye-catching feature in Durham's South Road campus quarter, was recently dredged and restored to its former glory, as a conservation habitat, with funds raised from private donations.

It has helped to attract kingfishers and herons as regular visitors, while the lakeside path has been rebuilt, with a new memorial fountain installed.

A former duck house, built by a predecessor of Mr Stephenson, in the 1960s, rotted away, leaving the ducks without safe refuge.

Newly-hatched ducks were at risk of being preyed on by crows and foxes.

Mr Stephenson, a skilled carpenter, built the 6ft-long duck house in his garage, but kept it a well-guarded secret.

It was officially unveiled as a 40th birthday present to the college, on Van Mildert's Day, marking the end of term last week.