Swans given police escort to help them to safety

The swan family was spotted by drivers who reported them to the police

Police were on hand to ensure a family of swans crossing a major road completed their journey safely.

Essex Police received reports about a pair of adults with four cygnets swanning around on the A131 Regiment Way, Chelmsford.

Ch Insp Jennifer Bliss said: "I'm pleased we were able to get this young family to safety from the side of a busy road. Fortunately, our officers are trained for a range of incidents so didn't have to wing it.

"I'm also grateful for the patience of all the drivers on the road at the time. Incidents like this could have led to someone spitting feathers, but everyone was really understanding."

Traffic was stopped to allow the swans to reach safety with the help of police