Orphaned ducklings saved from motorway

Nine ducklings survived a deadly dash across Dunedin's Southern Motorway, between Green Island and Fairfield, yesterday afternoon.

Rachel Van Grunsven, of Otago SPCA, was called to collect the ducklings and check more weren't hiding in the long grass by the side of the road.

"Lucky for me the policeman came across them first. I just had to scramble in that kind of stream to collect them up . . . nine babies," she laughed.

The mother did not survive the crossing.