BUILDING workers from a Newton firm have come under fire for disturbing a nesting duck at a rural housing development.

Villagers living in Langley, near Macclesfield, have taken exception to the tactics of construction staff from Morris Homes, who are part-way through an affordable housing scheme there.

Right in the middle of their building site is a duck, fiercely guarding five eggs, which local residents have taken to their hearts.

They have accused the builders of getting too close to the duck for comfort - and breaking local preservation orders on wildlife.

There have also been accusations that someone has been aiming pot shots at the nesting bird with bricks and debris.

Residents have mounted a round-the-clock guard for the beleaguered duck, which has spurned an abundance of hedgerows and ponds in leafy Langley to set up home on the building site.

Villager Mae Cummins, aged 71, said: "We are really worried that the demolition is getting too close for comfort."

She will be joined on her 'duck patrol' by more than a dozen fellow villagers.

Officials from Morris Homes, which is based in The Parks, Newton-le-Willows, insist building work will cease at the site if necessary.

The company has vowed to observe a 12-feet exclusion zone around the duck's nest to keep the peace.

Wildlife protection officers from Macclesfield Borough Council have also pledged to keep the situation under observation.

The construction firm is working on behalf of Dane Housing to build an affordable homes scheme on the site of a former factory.