VIDEO: UPSETTING CONTENT - Family of ducklings mowed down in Sheffield street

The motorist ploughed into the birds on Livesey Street in Hillsborough, near the junction with Penistone Road, killing at least six of the youngsters and seriously injuring their mother.

A stunned witness claims the driver, who failed to stop, either drove into them deliberately or was not concentrating sufficiently to notice them waddling across the road close to Owlerton Greyhound Stadium on Tuesday, May 1.

Leanne Cliff, who works for a nearby car dealership, witnessed the distressing scenes at around 5pm that afternoon.

"I was about three cars behind when I saw this car - I believe it was a white Audi, though someone else thought it was a Golf - drive straight into the mother duck who was crossing the road with her 10 or 11 ducklings," she said.

"I nearly cried when I saw what happened. I think they must have been heading towards the stream nearby when it happened."The driver either saw them and wasn't bothered or wasn't paying enough attention to stop."

Ms Cliff said she collected a box and, along with passersby, helped gather up the four surviving ducklings which a lady told her she would take to the vets.

Video courtesy Dani Zielosko.