A POPULAR Pershore pet was found strangled in the garden of its owners 40 years ago.

The pet duck, known as Quackers, went out for walks with them and often came indoors to watch television.

Quackers belonged to Mr Alf Camden, of 9 Mill Lane, Pershore.

“The person who did this must have a vicious streak,” he said to the Journal of 1972.

“Quackers was so tame that it was almost one of the family.”

Mr Camden, a plumber, aged 58, said he was particularly angry because the duck was so tame it would go for walks with the family and would even join them in the house to watch television.

Quackers, who was two years old, lived in a kennel in the Camdens’ garden and became known to nearly everyone in Pershore.

“She used to walk round for miles with me and I used to take her down to the brook. She would even knock on the door when she wanted to come into the house, and she would sit on the settee with us.” Mr Camden said.

“Quackers was so tame that other people in Pershore would be able to go up and tickle her.

She would lie on her back for them and that is how we think she met her death.

“We last saw her at 8.40pm on Sunday night when my son, Alan, who is 23, went out to feed her. When he went back out at quarter to eleven he found her dead. Whoever did it must have been an amateur.

“The skin around her neck was torn and there were feathers everywhere. She must have suffered a lot.

“She will be badly missed by my two daughters, Wendy, who is five, and Shirley who is 15.

They were particularly fond of her.”

Quackers was one of two ducks that Mr Camden bought as ducklings. He set up a bath for them in the garden, but the other duck died after only two weeks.

A neighbour said afterwards: “A lot of people in Pershore are going to be upset about this.

They all loved that duck.”