Newport's love battle swans return to canal

Bailiffs were keeping a close eye today on two swans which were returned to a Shropshire waterway after one of them was injured while fighting with a love rival in the middle of a street.

Mildred and Albert were released back on to Newport Canal on Sunday after spending time at Cheshire's Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre. Mildred was taken to the centre last month for an operation after hurting her foot.

As a result, lonely Albert made a play for another swan on the canal called Sarah.

But Sarah's partner, Louis, took offence and ended up fighting with Albert in the middle of the B5062 into Edgmond on February 25.

As a result, Albert injured his foot and was taken to the same wildlife centre to recover. But the pair were returned to their home at the weekend.

Ann Hall, who looks after the swans in Newport, said the birds were ecstatic to be home.

"I had them in the back of my car bringing them to Newport and it was a surreal experience," she said.

"Mildred didn't put her head down at all for the journey and Albert just grunted. But when we came into Newport his head came up and they were really pleased.

"Mildred got out first and she went straight into the water and Albert wanted to get out quickly too.

"It was a very nice end to what could have been a tragic story."

Alan Evans, Newport's water bailiff, who keeps a close eye on the canal and the swans, said: "They will begin to start selecting where their nests will go this year and hopefully they will start breeding.

"Albert and Mildred flew down to me yesterday so they are certainly getting better.

"But all of this has thrown them a bit, being at the rescue centre, but they are doing fine. They are quite pleased to see us now. They are settling down and hopefully everything will turn out alright for them."

He added that the birds were now trying to get back to normality.

"They are a little but wary now because of the disruption and they have moved to another end of the canal," he said.

Mr Evans praised the work of staff at Stapeley for returning the birds in such a good condition.

On the public's reaction to the swans' return, Mr Evans added: "Everybody has been asking us where the swans are and when they would be coming back. The swans are a real attraction to the canal."

By Jason Lavan