A SWAN which had a fishing hook caught in its wing has been rescued from the river. 

Volunteers from The Swan Food Project rescued the bird after spotting it at the swan sanctuary along the river Severn in Worcester. 

The volunteers were looking for a different swan who was reported to have a lump on its foot and discovered the distressed bird on Wednesday, July 17. 

Marilyn McCarthy, founder of The Swan Food Project, said: "We were there looking for a swan with a lump on its foot which is not easy to spot especially if it is in the water. 

"But it was handy that we were there because we saw a swan which had a hook in its wing. 

"We used a feed bucket to draw it in but you have to be so careful when there are so many.

"We normally use swan hooks but I was able to catch it by hand. 

"It's not going to sit there and say thank you so it did struggle but you just have to stop the wings from flapping."

The volunteers were able to remove the hook from the swan's wing as the damage was not severe, but sometimes swans will be taken to The Vale Wildlife Centre or Wychbold Swan Rescue.

Mrs McCarthy continued: "We were able to remove the hook and return it to the river. 

"This seems to be something that happens every year but they are hard to see, you have to watch their behaviour. 

"There has been so much fishing before the sanctuary in the past that there is still fishing line in the banks and when it rains heavily or floods the lines get released into the river.

"I'm glad we were there to spot the swan, especially when you consider that I had seen two people fishing earlier in the day, although the line on the swan looked old."

The swan sanctuary was set up 40 years ago between the cathedral and railway viaduct and fishing is banned. 

The Swan Food Project is currently looking for more volunteers and aims to improve the diet and environment of swans in Worcester.