Fire crew rescues duck from pond in Greater Manchester

Firefighters called in a specialist water team to rescue a duck "balanced precariously" in a pond.

A Greater Manchester fire engine was called to the pond on Abelia Road, Leigh, on Monday, but crews were unable to reach the duck using a ladder.

Specialist technicians from the Water Incident Unit were called and managed to get into the water to free the duck.

It had been guarding a dead chick and was stuck in a dangerous position, a spokesman said.

Crew manager Gabs Campbell said: "The duck was marooned really and was stuck in a fairly dangerous position.

"Obviously it wasn't in any immediate danger but any member of the public trying to free the mallard would have got into some real trouble.

"We were going to deploy the boat but we managed to get down to the water and free the duck before it was checked over by the RSPCA and then freed into a safer part of the water."