A traffic warden went on a wild goose chase when a family of Canada geese came dangerously close to a busy town centre street.

Jill O’Connell captured the moment when the traffic warden turned her attention from cars to geese, and herded the family of five to the safety of South Park.

She said: “I met this traffic warden herding geese from Bridge Street and helped her to get them to South Park.

“Stopping traffic on Park Lane gave a few people a smile.”

Traffic warden Emma, who has been on the Macclesfield beat for six years, said: “I saw mum, dad and three babies in Christ Church car park but they walked out into Waterloo Street West.

“It was quite dangerous, it could have caused a car accident as well as harming the babies so it was a case of let’s try and get them to a place of safety.”

With the help of three passing women and their four children, Emma ushered the geese out of Waterloo Street West, down Bridge Street, Brown Street, and even helped them cross over Park Lane to the park.

And Emma says the geese aren’t the only animals she has rescued from the roads, also saving lost dogs and escaped rabbits on her rounds.

She said: “We are all animal lovers so we do what we can when we see an animal in danger.”

She added: “Our job is so varied, it’s not just ticketing. And it’s not just the animals, it’s people too. We are often seen as a shoulder to cry on. Lots of people around here know my name and say hello.

“It’s that part of our job which makes it interesting and varied.”

..while a duck moves in at supermarket

A Mallard duck has chosen to make its nest on top of a dry stone wall on Black Lane in Macclesfield
 

A nesting duck was the hot topic among shoppers after building its nest next door to a busy supermarket.

Emma Wood, 29, who works at Tesco on Hibel Road, noticed the mallard on top of the wall on Black Lane where it settled until it eggs had hatched.

She said: “At first I couldn’t believe it had chosen to nest on a wall. It was right out in the open. I wanted to move it but didn't think I should.”

Luckily its camouflage meant the duck and her eggs largely went unnoticed, and Emma and staff from neighbouring businesses ensured she didn’t have to stray from her eggs to find food. She said: “I started taking her a little bit of bread and feeding her in the morning and at night on my way in and out of walk. My colleague would feed her on Sundays and the lads from the car wash would feed her too.” And now the duck has beaten the odds and fled with two ducklings. Emma added: “I was a bit sad when I saw the empty nest. She was there in the morning and when I left work later on she was gone. Every time I see a duck with ducklings I wonder if it’s her!”

Maureen Gidman, 69, who lives on Rowan Way, Hurdsfield, said: “It’s wonderful now the eggs have hatched. I’ve seen the chicks a couple of times. They are gorgeous.”