Donna the derby duck is called home

The wayward bird, which was one of over 400 released into the Inver River last July to help raise funds for the local RNLI, managed to slip through the net and escape.

Donna - also known as number 30 - was later found by a fisherman at Browns Bay, who rescued her and took her back to his fish pond, where she has been living ever since.

Now, with this year’s duck derby fast approaching on Saturday, July 28, the honorary secretary of RNLI Larne fundraising branch, Lilian Stewart, has asked Donna’s saviour to return her so she can be reunited with her parents Derek and Dawn - aka numbers 28 and 29.

Lilian told the Times: “Derek and Dawn have missed Donna and although they know she has been well taken care of, they would love to see her again.

“Her guardian can return Donna to Murrayfield Arcade on Wednesday July 18, Wednesday July 25 or Friday July 27 between 9.30am and 4.30pm.

“Or if he would like to contact me, I would extend an invitation to him to come along to the event itself and help send Donna off down the river with her mum and dad and the hundreds of friends who will be racing again for Larne RNLI.”