WANDERING Walter, the duck who captured the hearts of villagers, has died in a road accident.

And the heartbroken motorist who run him over has promised to buy Belthorn a pair of new ducks in the spring as an apology.

Walter emerged from behind a parked vehicle and into the path of an oncoming car.

The driver did not see him because the sun was dazzling his eyes. The man, who lives in Belthorn, took Walter home and buried him.

He does not want to be named but is said to be distraught.

Walter was featured in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph last June after he gatecrashed the village's communal pond and made it his permanent home.

Belthorn residents had already bought four ducks for the pond, and it was as if Walter knew he would be well looked after by making it his home, too.

Soon after arriving he started his strange antics which earned him the nickname 'Wandering Walter' after the famous East Lancashire comedian who was a great favourite in clubland.

He was old and could only fly enough to propel himself on to the pond's wall. But from there he wandered into Belthorn Road and sat in the middle, watching the world go by.

Residents feared he might become a victim of an accident, so they put up the sign to warn speeding drivers.

Now villagers are concerned for welfare of another duck called 'Roaming Rita', who became Walter's 'wife'.

Rita used to follow him everywhere to make sure he was safe from harm, though none of the three other ducks ventures past the confines of the pond area.

Now she has lost her mate and stays in the pond with villagers doing their best to comfort her.

One villager said: "Walter had become a real character in the village. He will be missed. We don't know how Rita will be in the long run. but her late mate will be a very hard act to follow".