A FAMILY has put up a £40 reward after a young girl's prized ducklings were stolen while she was in hospital with a broken leg.

The four-week-old yellow ducklings, called Jeffrey and Shelby, were snatched from Lauren Holbrough's back garden in Exeter Close, Shoebury, some time after 8pm on Wednesday.

Her mum, Sam Holbrough, 35, wants to get them back, as she says it would put a smile back on the face of ten-year-old Lauren.

"Lauren is so upset," said Mrs Holbrough. "She broke her right leg after tripping in a hole in the street. While we were at hospital, somebody took her ducks.

"They took them out of their cage, next to the paddling pool, and tried to get at our rabbit, too. We thought it might have been foxes at first, but we found the rabbit hiding under the decking. There would have been feathers on the ground if the ducks had been attacked."

Mrs Holbrough added: "I don't know what anybody has to gain from stealing a couple of ducks. They're not worth anything. It must be somebody who knew they were there, maybe jealous kids."

If you know anything of Jeffrey and Shelby's whereabouts, call Mrs Holbrough on 01702 299753.