Broadway is being launched by animal experts.

Up to 150 ducks are causing beak-hour commuter chaos by dodging the Hamilton-bound traffic near Crow Lane roundabout.

Now Government officials are to lay traps and have the ducks put down.

Senior civil servants in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries say there is not enough land to keep the ducks.

And they fear a serious traffic accident if the ducks keep playing chicken with cars and mopeds.

Government vet Jonathan Nisbett said: "It's a real shame we have to take this step. A lot of us love animals, including myself.

"But it's a matter of how many ducks there are down there. They are becoming a nuisance and a danger to the public.'' He said the ducks were also teaming up with feral chickens to play Russian roulette with the traffic.

And rats are beginning to follow wherever the ducks and chicks lead.

Dr. Nisbett added: "We've had complaints from the businesses down there, both Crow Lane Bakery and Rance's Boatyard.

"Some of the people down there have been feeding them, which encourages these ducks and chickens.

"But there should be traps laid within a short while and the businesses are happy for them to be placed on their premises.

"We are not trying to eliminate all the animals, just reduce their numbers.

"It's all a question of space. There's nowhere really that we could keep them and although it's unfortunate, we do not want a serious accident or further nuisances to the people who do business there.'' Boatyard owner Edward Rance said the ducks had become a "damn nuisance''.

"They have been multiplying and multiplying over the years,'' he said, adding that customers began complaining that duck droppings were staining their boats.

"It's got to be too many now. They all seem to hang about by the National Trust property on Pomander Road.

"Then they come over here, get on the boats and leave their mess everywhere.

"I have talked to the National Trust but they say it's not their responsibility. They say it's the Government.

"But it's important something is done about it real soon. Come next spring they will be breeding again.

"At times, I have seen 12 or 13 little babies crossing the road with their mother and there's probably been up to 150 waddling around together at any one time.'' Crow Lane Bakery manager Louis Ooi promised nobody was being allowed to feed the ducks.

"I don't consider them a real problem but they do try to get across the street,'' he said. "However, I must say they have become very streetwise.

These are intelligent ducks.

"They look both ways to check the traffic before they cross.''