An old dog has become a stay-at-home dad for nine ducklings after their mother suddenly disappeared.
Fred the Labrabor took the baby orphans under his paw after their mum vanished on Thursday.
The 10-year-old pooch is the resident pet at Mountfitchet Castle near Stansted, Essex, where a member of staff found the lost siblings waddling around the battlements.
Staff at the popular tourist attraction said they were very worried about the ducklings, but Fred immediately took to them and has been babysitting ever since.