EVEN the ducks haven’t been able to escape this week’s freezing weather, as these puzzled mallards pottering about on the ice-covered River Cherwell in Oxford proved.

The pair wandered around on the frozen river looking for somewhere to swim, but finally gave up and headed back to the river bank.

Temperatures in Oxfordshire dropped to -12.4C (9.48F) last Friday and have struggled to get above freezing all week. Snow was forecast for the county last night, with a thaw not expected until Sunday.