MANDARIN ducks are being put up for sale and for sponsorship in a small Wiltshire village.

The quacking good idea to sell or have people sponsor the ducks in Alderton came after it was realised that the volunteers who ran the pond would need to build up a nest egg to pay for maintenance and to acquire new wildfowl.

The duck pond, situated in the village just off the B4040, includes a number of interesting species and has nest boxes suited to their needs.

Mandarin ducks in particular prefer to live in trees and have been much happier since nest boxes were installed at the pond with a small ladder for them to climb up at night.

For those who help the charitably-run pond foot the bill through sponsorship there will be a scroll of sponsorship designed by a local artist illustrating their duck and including their name.

Melissa Powell, one of the volunteers who helps with the pond, said: "Apart from the male Mandarin ducks for sale or sponsorship at £25 each we have a couple of lonely ducks whose mates have died so we are hoping to raise funds to buy a female Red-crested Pochard and a female Northern Shoveler.

"We would dearly love to buy a pair of Fulvous whistling ducks too."

"We hatch the eggs in an incubator and then hand raise the ducklings. We have to do this as the local crows predate the eggs and ducklings.

She added: "They have to learn to swim and a painter's plastic tray starts them off as they can easily get out of the 'deep end'. Then they graduate to a plastic sandpit given by one of the local children which is filled with water."

If you would like to buy or sponsor one of the ducks email Melissa Powell on melissajpowell@aol.com