DAVID and Sally Rowley must look back and think they were quackers to open an animal sanctuary in one of the region's most rural areas.

While some sanctuaries restrict themselves to dogs or cats, the Rowleys have a tendency to take the more unusual animals in the Weardale area.

Now they have found themselves searching for a new home for 25 ducks, which were having their lives made a misery by vermin in their old home on an allotment in South Church, near Bishop Auckland.

The ducks have now joined David and Sally's ever-growing menagerie of more than 100 animals, and there is not a dog or cat in sight.

The Weardale Sanctuary, in Stanhope, County Durham, is looking to re-home between 50 and 60 ducks, 30 sheep, two goats, two quail, three ponies - and a pair of 3ft 6in iguanas.

David said the iguanas are probably the most unusual creatures they have taken in, after their owner could not give them the attention they needed, but there is a rather odd-looking goat, which may also have trouble appealing to a potential new owner.

"He's quite funny-looking," said David.

"He's got quite a funny fringe on him and only one horn, so he is quite unusual."

The latest collection of ducks belonged to Donna Brown, who lovingly customised a shed for them to live in on an allotment, and dug out holes in the ground so she could fit old baths for them to swim.

However, no matter what she tried, vermin still got in and eventually, she felt it best to send the ducks to pastures new.

"We even tin-sheeted the shed inside and out, and they still got in," she said.

Anybody who can give any of the animals a home can telephone (01388) 526375