SWAN RESCUED FROM CHELSEA FC LAKE

An injured swan has been rescued from the lake at Chelsea FC's training ground in Surrey.

Groundsmen joined rescuers from the Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF) as they spent almost three hours trying to catch the bird in Stoke D'Abernon.

The swan was in distress after getting a stick caught in a ring attached to its leg. Rings are used by the British Trust for Ornithology as part of conservation efforts to monitor swan populations and track the movements of individual birds.

After several failed attempts, rescuers finally managed to reach the swan by rowing out onto the lake. Rescuers removed the stick and examined the bird to make sure it had no serious injuries before releasing it back onto the lake.

WAF founder and chief executive Simon Cowell MBE, who led the rescue mission, said it was "a massive relief" when the swan was finally caught.

He now hopes the incident could be the start of a "beautiful friendship" between WAF and the Premier League club.

Simon said: "It's great having a world-class football team just down the road from our wildlife hospital but it would be even better if we could work together with them.

"It might not be obvious but there are great synergies between WAF and Chelsea FC. Both organisations are absolutely committed to opening up new opportunities for children - in our case by educating youngsters about the wonders of nature and the countryside."