<b>It's famous for mustard, turkey and North Sea crabs, but now scientists have discovered that Norfolk is where ducks first evolved.</b>

A five-year study at the University of East Anglia revealed ducks' webbed feet share almost identical DNA with the townsfolk of Cromer.

Now boffins have received funding to begin a further study to back up the findings.

Of particular interest is why women in Norfolk have unusually large amounts of body hair and have a passion for swimming, while men have long, thin beak-like noses and tiny legs.

The scientists expect to conclude that ducks and residents of Norfolk are indeed close relatives.

<center><div class="getty embed image" style="background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:338px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:150.000000% 0 0 0;width:100%;"><iframe src="//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/460703449?et=qtorq9jmQa1r1cY9mlozdg&viewMoreLink=on&sig=Fu87W4oTH2429fLoRZp4SJurLjwMiuLNQaycWZLxq4A=" width="338" height="507" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></div><p style="margin:0;"></p><div style="padding:0;margin:0 0 0 10px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/460703449" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;">View image</a> | <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;">gettyimages.com</a></div></div></center><center><i>A local boy in Cromer shows classic signs of an affinity with ducks</center></i><br><br>

Dr Terence Johnson, who led the UEA study, was excited about the findings. He told the Suffolk Gazette: "The webbed feet link between ducks and Norfolk people is perhaps the biggest leap in evolutionary theory in years.

"I'm sure your readers in Suffolk have laughed for years about Norfolk people have webbed feet, but now we have discovered a very good reason for it.

"Evolution has taken many tens of thousands of years, with the common duck evolving from the same sub-human species. DNA specifically nails down the link to be the Cromer area on the North Norfolk coast."

The discovery may force Norwich City Football Club to rethink its Canaries nickname, instead putting a duck on the club badge.

But the study was rubbished by Cromer mayor George Mallard.

"It's quackers," he said.

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