RUDI the otter will be the star attraction at Kidderminster’s Museum of Carpet this weekend.

Daphne Neville, and her otter, Rudi, will appear at the Museum of Carpet on Saturday (April 9) from 3.30pm.

Daphne, a retired actress who first came to public prominence in the 1960’s film Swallows and Amazons, has four otters who live with her in Gloucestershire, many of which have been hand reared.

She started rescuing otters in the 1980’s when because of river pollution, the population of otters in the UK stood at around 7,800.

She will be talking at the museum about the work involved in raising otters. At her home, her otters have an enclosure in the garden and another in the kitchen. They are fed on trout and baby chickens.

Daphne will also be talking about her life with otters which has brought her into contact with royalty, when after writing a story for children, she received a call from the royal nanny to visit Highgrove and take her otters to meet Princes William and Harry.

She said: “The princes, who were about seven and five at the time, spent the afternoon with the otters, getting soaking wet in the process.

“Later they even gave one of the otters a bath.”

The talk will begin at 3pm and will last for around 45 minutes. To book your tickets, visit the museum or call 01562 69028.