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RSPCA
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RSPCA
UK News

Church forced to call emergency services after swan causes a flap

by Sophie Drew

A church in Leicester was recently forced to call in the emergency services after a swan got into a flap on the roof.

A churchwarden at St Margaret’s Church was left perplexed after hearing heavy footsteps on the roof of the church.

After climbing the bell tower to investigate the noise, Chris Newman came eye-to-eye with the bird, who had got herself stuck.

Mr Newman attempted to coax the animal off the 20ft high roof, but the swan did not have enough room to take off again.

He contacted the RSCPA, but after scaling the roof, the inspector found the conditions were too dangerous to attempt the rescue alone.

"I climbed up the church tower in order to locate the swan, but the roof was too slippery and wet and I knew I didn't have a ladder big enough to get to her myself," Allison North told the BBC.

"I requested the help of the fire service who were great and able to attend the location and able to use the unusual circumstances as training."

Eventually Leicestershire Fire and Rescue managed to get onto the roof and detain the swan in a blanket before it was carried down the ladder to safety.

The bird was then handed over to the RSPCA for safe release.

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