A PROUD and confident duck has finally hatched her seven ducklings after nesting on a public footbridge over the River Kennet.

The mallard has been nesting in amongst the flowerbeds in The Oracle in Reading, as the weather started getting warmer.

Passersby noticed the duck with her seven ducklings and have been taking photos of the unique opportunity to see mother nature in full swing.

The soft soil and thick bed of petunias makes it the perfect spot to make a nest.

The News spoke to residents to see what they make of the ducklings.

One Reading resident, said: "The sun is shining, you have got baby ducks and you have got flowers. It is so nice and and I just want to take a photo for my boy. "

Hemma Mason, Bracknell resident, said: "It is not cool, it is bloody awesome and I am really really surprised that she is comfortable enough to do that with the constant traffic of people.

"That says a lot, she has obviously been around for a while."

This duck has proven to be quite popular amongst shoppers in Reading, so why not pick a name. 

However, shoppers are concerned about how the ducklings will get down being so close to the river.

One man said: "I wonder who is going to leave the nest first, I reckon the ducklings will just jump and go for it."

The fate of these seven ducklings lies in jeapordy as to how they will fly their nest. 

Some people mentioned they will fall out of their nest into the deep river below and others think they will safely make it down and follow their wise mother.