Officers from the RSPCA could scarcely believe their eyes when they were called to a Southend garden to rescue an unusual visitor.

There among the shrubs and bedding plants was a fully-grown swan which had veered offcourse and landed in the Lifstan Way garden.

A spokeswoman said: "It is rather unusual to find a swan like this but it was unharmed, apart from a few ruffled feathers.

"One of our officers managed to catch it and release it in a nearby park."

Published Tuesday, May 20, 2003

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