MPs' expenses: Sir Peter Viggers in duck house mystery

Sir Peter, the Tory MP for Gosport in Hampshire, has already announced that he will retire at the next election after David Cameron was “furious” with him for claiming the 5ft water feature on his expenses.

The “Stockholm” duck house covered an area of 32sq ft and was positioned on top of a floating island. It was designed for them to seek shelter from foxes and the cold. Sir Peter bought the duck house on May 22, 2006 and had it installed in the grounds of his constituency home.

For two years the ducks enjoyed the comfort of their pavilion. But after Sir Peter sold his own house on Aug 1, 2008 for £800,000, they appear to have been left out in the cold.

It was unclear whether the MP took the duck house with him when he relocated, or whether it was removed by the new owners. Satellite images taken from space still show the duck island, and even its bridge, sitting in the middle of the pond.

But they appear to have been taken before Sir Peter moved and more recent photographs show the duck house isn’t there.

Kirsten Atkins, 25, a resident, said: “I read all about his duck house but it looks like it’s gone – much the same as Sir Peter. God knows where it has gone but the ducks certainly aren’t enjoying it any more.”