EACH spring for the past 15 years, a troupe of ducks have made an early morning waddle to a popular West Oxford cafe.

The tradition is so regular that cafe owner Mick Harris takes their visit as a sign of summer.

And their first appearance this year was on Saturday.

Their early morning commute to Mick’s Cafe in Botley Road was rewarded with a breakfast of breadcrumbs.

Mr Harris, who has run the cafe for 25 years, said: “It’s been the same every year. And it’s always around this time – about the beginning of April.

“This morning there were four or five of them, and sometimes they walk into the cafe. I give them old bread usually.”

Strangely, the ducks come from the direction of the city centre, rather than the river.

Mr Harris said: “They always seem to come from town, I don’t know why. Two of them were fighting this morning, wherever they come from they are desperate to be fed.”

The ducks arrive at about 5.30am for two or three weeks, then stop again until the following spring.

Mr Harris added: “I have seen one or two that have been hit by a car.

“It’s a shame but Botley Road is obviously very busy.”