herbie, an aylesbury duck, was bought by jacky and paddy randall of croydon for their children mikala and colin. the film, presented by reporter alan towers, includes footage of herbie waddling along the street, joining the family at breakfast and attacking the randalls' terrier. part of the film is a four-second shot of herbie apparently skateboarding by himself on colin's board. this image seemingly captured the public imagination, and the bbc received many requests for it to be shown again, which it frequently was.