A SWAN stuck on a roof of a post office was rescued by firefighters.

Two crews were called to the post office on Pickup Street, Clayton-le-Moors, just after 12.30pm on Thursday September 20 after receiving calls from concerned residents saying they had seen a swan in distress on the roof.

The RSPCA were also called to the incident.

Sam Hathaway, who owns Lofthouse Equestrian and Country Boutique on Pickup Street, said: "I was working in the shop and turned round to look out of the window and there was a fire engine right outside the post office.

"A swan was on the roof. I have no idea how it got there and the fire service tried to get the swan down but I think it flew away before they could properly rescue it."

One Facebook user who witnessed the incident commented: "I can honestly say in my 44 years on this planet, that I have never seen a swan on a roof, until today. It could only happen in Clayton."

A fire service spokesman said: "We were called to an incident just after 12.30pm after receiving messages saying a swan had been spotted on the roof of the post office on Pickup Street.

"The swan had injured its leg and the RSPCA also attended.

"One appliance from Great Harwood fire station was sent to the incident and an aerial ladder platform from Hyndburn fire station was later called to effect a rescue."

The crews remained at the scene for around an hour and a half until the swan eventually made it down at approximately 2.10pm.