Former model Poppy Winteringham-Green is helping seven baby ducklings through their first weeks of life at her animal sanctuary in Bradford.

Although the former Thornton Grammar School pupil is pleased to take in the week-old mallards, she fears this could be the beginning of another annual influx of "abandoned" fledglings being taken from their nests.

Last year she helped 79 newly-hatched birds learn to eat, drink and fly before setting them free into the wild.

Poppy is registered with the RSPCA to look after abandoned wildfowl and in total she now has 15 ducklings which were taken to the RSPCA office in Mount Street, Bradford.

But she says many people wrongly believe crying baby ducks have been left by their mothers and take them from their nests.

"A mother would never leave her babies and she always goes back," said the 65-year-old.

"They need to be left where they are as in most cases their mother will be back and they need their mother to teach them how to eat, drink and fly - without her they will die.

"We love having them here, and we do all we can for them, but they should never be taken from their mother. If people are worried the mother may have died they should keep an eye on the nest and see if she comes back before removing the babies."

Poppy was photographed throughout her career all over the world for top magazines, including Vogue.

And, since retiring from the glamorous lifestyle, she has returned to her roots in Thornton and restored a historic farmhouse.

During the past seven years, Poppy and husband Pete, who fund the sanctuary themselves, have taken scores of animals and birds under their wing, including geese, dogs, a cow, partridge, pheasant and quail.

Mandy Miller, manager at the RSPCA in Bradford, said they were grateful for the work Poppy did. "She helps us tremendously with the ducklings as otherwise we'd have to do it here and it's much nicer for them to be at the farm," she said.

"With ducklings, as with any wildlife, people should not pick them up unless it is absolutely necessary.

"If they know their mother has died, which is the case sometimes, then the ducklings obviously need rescuing."