Escaped ducklings caused traffic chaos this morning when they decided to take a stroll on the A19.

The young birds and their mother stopped traffic at the mouth of the northbound Tyne Tunnel at the height of rush hour at 8am on Monday (April 22) morning.

Both lanes were stopped while the ducklings were escorted off the carriageway and returned to a nearby pond, where it is believed they had come from.

All of the birds were safely rescued and traffic was able to get moving again just a few minutes later.

The Northern Echo: Workers attempt to round up the ducks walking around on the A19.

Video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by tunnel operator TT2 shows the ducks being rounded up and taken to safety.

A spokesperson from TT2 said: “At about 8am on Monday (April 22), approximately six ducklings and their mother attempted to cross the A19 at the entrance to the Northbound Tyne Tunnel.

"Traffic was held for a short period whilst TT2 employees and local police who were passing by picked up the ducklings to take them to safety.

"The ducklings and their mother were taken back to the dry pond in Jarrow, just off the A19 Southbound, where it is believed they came from.”

It comes as more drivers are using the tunnel as works on the Tyne Bridge cause delays in Newcastle City Centre and on the Central Motorway.