You're never alone with a plastic duck.

In 1992 a consignment of plastic ducks were being shipped across the pacific from Hong Kong to the USA. On 10th January the Ship hit heavy storms and several containers went overboard, most stayed intact but one split open an released its contents of toy ducks (and frogs, turtles and beavers). They are easily recognisable, they have the words 'The First Years' printed on them.

For the past 14 years these duck have been bobbing along the world sea lanes. The largest group headed down the pacific towards Austrailia and indonesia.

Scientists tracking the ducks reckon that significant (10,000) duck numbers have gone round the North Pole and made their way south through the Arctic circle into the Atlantic. For much of the time the ducks were trapped in ice, moving at just a mile a day. As the ice melted south of Greenland the ducks were released from their hibernation to bob and weave their way on their journeys.

Some toys have already turned up in Iceland, Norway and Scotland but the majority headed south. The ducks are quite valuable becoming collectors items at over £1000 each. Clive Anderson has done a radio programme about this.

Oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer is using the ducks to study ocean currents.Apparently the ducks will soon be hitting the gulf stream and the ducks will help us monitor the potential impact of climate change on tthe gulf stream. The gulf stream is what causes the UK to have mild winters. Global warming could move the gulf stream so we get significantly colder winters.

The invasion is about to commence..............