A long-distance bus was hijacked and the drivers held hostage for more than three hours in a dispute over 15 preserved ducks, reports Daily Sunshine.

A woman passenger identified as Luo put the 15 preserved ducks in the luggage compartment before she boarded the Shenzhen-bound bus on September 15 in Linfeng, Hunan Province.

Obviously, she did not shut the door properly and the ducks must have fallen out on the way, said the drivers.

Luo demanded 200 yuan (US$24) in compensation, but after negotiations the drivers gave her just 100 yuan (US$12).

The discontented woman kept grumbling about revenge once they arrived in Shenzhen.

When the bus reached Longhua Town the next day, a white van pulled in front of it, blocking its way.

Eight men then charged into the bus and forced Lu Kaibao, one of the drivers, into their van.

The other two drivers were ordered to follow the van to a restaurant in Guanlan Town, where they were taken inside while six passengers were ordered to remain in their seats.

Luo was seen talking with the eight men and proposing to hold the drivers hostage for an 8,000-yuan (US$960 ransom.

But they left with only cash and cellphones found on the drivers after suspecting that police had been alerted, the drivers said.

Close