Two families of ducks with more than 18 ducklings between them have put springtime smiles on the faces of staff and residents at a Shropshire nursing home.

The two mummy ducks can be seen with their little broods waddling behind them in the grounds of The Uplands at Oxon nursing home on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.

Staff and residents are delighted with the new arrivals who are bravely venturing from the pond in the grounds, across the car park and up to the front door where they can be sure of little treats.

Debra Bumford, receptionist at The Uplands at Oxon, said that originally there had been one female with five males courting her. “There is now another female on the scene and between them they have more than 18 ducklings,” she said.

“The residents here love them because the ducks and their babies often wander up to the front door and act as if they own the place.

“Some of the residents like to feed them and they have brought much happiness and interest.

“They are causing a bit of a stir. The ducklings just appeared on Wednesday and they are very cute and brown and fluffy,” she said.

The Uplands at Oxon, which has recently celebrated taking on its 100th member of staff, opened its new premises less than two years ago after its success led to it outgrowing its previous base at Dorrington, near Shrewsbury.