There's not a huge amount of room and it gets rather dull going round and round a little sink - but it's a whole lot better than being in the cold outside. These ducklings were rescued by a farmer after they hatched earlier this week - six months before most broods.

Fearing they would perish outside, the farmer took them indoors and later put them in his bathroom sink for their first paddle. Pauline Kidner, founder of the Secret World Animal Rescue Centre in Highbridge, Somerset, said: 'It's very important to keep them warm. We'll be looking after them over Christmas and through the winter.

'Next week they'll be moved to a duckery unit which allows them to go into the water if they want, with a heater to keep them warm and dry.'