Town Forced to Apologise After “Emergency Duck Meeting” Blocks Traffic for Two Hours

Residents in the small town of Brimley were left both confused and amused on Tuesday morning after local officials accidentally caused a major traffic delay while attempting to deal with a group of unusually organised ducks.

The incident began shortly after 8:10 a.m., when council workers noticed around 35 ducks gathered in a tight circle in the middle of High Street, refusing to move despite repeated attempts to shoo them away.

Concerned that the birds might wander into busy traffic, council staff temporarily closed the road while they attempted to guide the ducks back toward a nearby pond.

“They Looked Like They Were Having a Meeting”

Several witnesses said the birds appeared unusually calm and strangely coordinated.

“They were all standing in a circle, just staring at each other,” said local shop owner Martin Hayes. “It genuinely looked like they were holding some kind of meeting.”

Attempts to scatter the group reportedly failed when the ducks simply waddled a few metres away and re-formed the circle.

Police Called to Assist

After nearly 40 minutes of disruption, police officers arrived to help clear the road. Officers attempted several methods to encourage the ducks to move, including clapping, slowly approaching the birds, and using traffic cones to guide them. None of the methods proved particularly effective.

One officer reportedly described the situation over the radio as “a highly organised duck assembly.”

Situation Ends Suddenly

The disruption ended abruptly when the ducks unexpectedly stood up, quacked loudly in unison, and waddled calmly back toward the town pond. Traffic resumed shortly afterward.

Council Responds

In a light-hearted statement, the local council apologised to drivers for the delay and thanked residents for their patience.

“We are pleased to confirm that the ducks involved have now returned safely to the pond and that no further meetings are scheduled,” the statement read.

No injuries were reported during the incident, although one traffic officer admitted he was “briefly outmanoeuvred by a particularly determined duck.”

Residents have since begun referring to the event as “The Great Brimley Duck Summit.”