A BUILDING firm has celebrated more than 100 years of trading by giving Danbury's ducks a new home.

Bakers of Danbury Ltd marked 140 years in business when it installed a duck house on the pond on Eves Corner.

Representatives of Danbury Parish Council, Bakers of Danbury Ltd, children from the ECO Council for St John’s C of E Primary School, children from Heathcote Preparatory School as well as residents braved the cold, wet and snow to see the house installed on the frozen lake.

Peter Smyth, Managing Director of Bakers of Danbury Ltd said; “The guys in our church department, who overlook Eves Corner, felt sorry for the ducks in their wonky house with holes in it.

“So, we decided to build a new duck house.

“We have a Joinery shop onsite, so it was a nice little project for someone to work on.

“We asked our Bench Joiner, Robyn Palmer to build the duck house, because he has taken his lunch by the pond almost every day, since he joined Bakers over 14-years-ago."

Inspiration for the duck house was taken from The Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Main Road.

Bakers is well known for carrying out conservation work to churches, ancient monuments and cathedrals, as well as work to listed buildings and private homes.

In recent times, the firm has completed work on both St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey amongst other buildings.

Mr Smyth added: “We've been trying to give a bit back to the village, as we've just celebrated our 140th anniversary last year.

“Bakers have always been on Eves Corner, so we bought the Christmas tree to go on Eves Corner last year, as a thank you to the village too.”

The duck house has two nesting boxes with a door on each side.

Each nesting box has a floating ramp leading from the house into the water.

The duck house took a whole day to paint it, which includes details such as a mallard duck, flowers and detailed stone quoins, very much like those on St Johns.

Danbury Parish Council were over the moon with the duck house which will provide a perfect spot to shield some of the animals from the cold throughout the rest of winter.

Stuart Berlyn, chairman of the council, said: “Once again Bakers of Danbury has supported the village and Parish Council with this fantastic donation to celebrate their 140th Anniversary.

“So much thought and hard work has gone into this duck house.

“It's the poshest duck house we've ever seen, but only the best for our ducks."