Cops found themselves on a police chase with a royal twist when they were called to track down a winged creature.

Like a scene from the 2007 film Hot Fuzz, Sutton’s safer transport team found themselves chasing the bird down the street after it made off from Carshalton Ponds into busy morning traffic.

They found the bird bleeding from a leg injury and making his way along West Street towards Station Approach.

Special Constable Martin Harrington and PCSO John Haddock steered the swan into the car park of The Hope pub while PC Donna Heppenstall phoned for assistance.

Staff from the Riverside Animal Centre, Beddington Park, came immediately after receiving her call and secured the cob in the car park before taking it off to get medical treatment.

PC Heppenstall said: "Maybe the swan had tried to fly and injured himself.

“As a police officer I've been involved in a wide variety of incidents but this is the first time I've been involved in rescuing the Queen's property."

A Riverside spokeswoman says the swan has suffered grazes to both his legs but is set to make a full recovery.

She said: “He's in one of our pens and recovering just fine.”

The police received three calls from motorists about the incident which happened at about 9.20am last Friday.

One caller said impatient drivers were sounding their horns at the swan.

Its journey before being caught was approximately a third of a mile.

Traditionally all unmarked mute swans in open water are the property of the Queen.

 

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