A VERY fluffy but unlikely friendship has blossomed at a North-East owl centre.

Chop-Suey, a baby white-crested runner duck, and Larch, a tiny long-eared owl, spend their afternoons snuggled up having an afternoon nap.

Since the pair of three-week-old fledglings met at Kirkleatham Owl Centre, near Redcar, they have become inseparable.

Craig Wesson, who works at the centre, said: “We initially had 12 duck eggs in our incubator, but sadly only the one egg hatched, and although Chop-Suey was happy with human company, he was never happy being left alone - so with Larch by himself we put the two together and they instantly snuggled up and fell asleep.

“For obvious reasons we won't be able to keep them together for much longer, but while they are still very small we are more than happy for them to enjoy their time together.

“Both will hopefully take part in the centre's flying displays, although probably not together. Larch will be a fast flyer, while Chop-Suey being a runner Duck will most likely be more of a ground bird.”

To watch a video of the birds together: