A SWAN had to be put down by vets after it found itself stuck to ice in a Walney pond.

The stricken bird had been rescued by a member of the Tweet Fleet - an army of volunteers for Bardsea Bird Sanctuary - who go out of their way to rescue and care for birds in need.

The swan was pulled from the ice but later had to be put down by vets due to gangrene in the injured leg.

The sanctuary had received a report of two swans stuck to the ice at a pond near Southend Caravan Park on Thursday prompting Tweet Fleet member Cath McTigue to spring into action.

Bardsea Bird Sanctuary owner Elisabeth Ashleigh informed emergency services and the RSPCA, with Cath arriving at the scene at the same time as Cumbria Fire and Rescue.

Elisabeth said that Cath, who she describes as a heroine, had ‘braved the freezing conditions’ and ‘got a bit wet’ when removing a swan which was ‘firmly stuck in the ice’.

The second swan was able to walk itself off the ice.

She said: “There was a fire officer there, but she alone went and extracted the swan which was stuck to the ice, literally, it’s feathers were stuck to the ice and it was obviously in a bad way.”

When brought back to the bird sanctuary it was noted that the swan had injuries to one of its wings and one leg was ‘backwards’.

“I’d say this is very typical of an injury when they go to land on water thinking they’re going to have a soft landing and then smack a leg,” said Elisabeth.

The swan was treated to soaked cat biscuits and peas and sweetcorn laced with painkillers as it awaited a vet appointment at Church Walk Vets, a veterinary practice that Elisabeth calls ‘amazing’.

Elisabeth says that animals stuck on ice is a common issue when temperatures plummet, being alerted to a heron stuck at the side of the A590 the day after the swan rescue.

She said: “We’ve got birds all over. It’s common if they sit down for too long and they are very weak because they have no been able to get water or food. They’ll sit down and get stuck to it.”

The Tweet Fleet is facing 'very stretched services' and is in need of volunteers. Search for Bardsea Bird Sanctuary on Facebook to get involved.