Frog soup in Eglinton

But Winston and Joan Winters, from Ashburn Park, aren't going to let the problem with their garden pond bug them too much even though it is leaping with frisky frogs doing what comes naturally.

Indeed, the once clear, plant-filled oasis in the back garden has rather taken on the appearance of a thick frog broth that has neighbours queuing for a nosey and has small children transfixed, mid-way between rapt fascination and barely concealed horror.

Lumpy with frongspawn, the pond water is so alive with slimey critters that from a distance the surface looks like it is boiling, and the swampy residents have now taken to ambushing passersby by jumping in and out of the plantlife along the pond's border area as people walk past.

Winston Winters put in long man hours many years ago digging the pond by hand and creating the water feature for himself and his wife to enjoy, but over the years frogs have slow encroached rising in numbers to the point where they now get more pleasure from the pond than the Winters do!

"The pond was my husband's idea. It is very much his garden and I am just his sidekick," said Joan on Monday, adding: "We have always had frogs spawning in the pond, but this year it is just incredible. We have never see so many male and female frogs. We reckon we have over 100 of them in the pond at this stage."

A quick trip out back and the first thing you notice is the low rumbling noise that sounds like a tree being cut down somewhere in the distance. In reality, it is the male frogs competing for females.

"The croaking is incredible. I think it must be a sign of contentment."

Joan confessed that children tend to be captivated by the annual visitation, and one child visitor to her garden, Isla, whose grandparents live opposite, was determined to try and catch them.

However, Joan and Winston know that in a few short weeks they won't have any difficulty in catching the frogs' offspring as the drive to leave the pond will result in an annual migration to bigger waters beginning with a trek across their back garden. This year they are expecting thousands of little leapers to make the journey, making keeping the lawn in trim a nightmare prospect.

"We are expecting a bumper crop of baby frogs this year. Certainly the garden last year was heaving with them, but this year is going to be much worse. We think this year we have three times as many frogs and I have thought of contacting a French restaurant to see if they might be interested in the abundance of fresh frogs legs," said Joan, adding: "You should see the size of them and they have huge thighs!"

One thing's for sure - it will be a while yet before Joan feels safe enough to wander out into the garden to sit and enjoy a 'croak and dagger' novel wearing a pair of 'open-toad' sandals!