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Shoppers in Lincoln city centre have been left surprised after a swan was seen waiting patiently for a train to pass at Lincoln’s high street crossing.

The bird was seen on Sunday afternoon while he waited quietly for a couple of minutes until the barriers opened.

It had earlier been seen strolling down the high street past the city's most popular shops.

David Burton saw the swan calmly staring into space as it waited for the barriers to move and grabbed his phone to take a picture as others watched on.

And he thinks he knows what the creature was doing there.

He said: “I think the low sun reflecting off the pavement made the swan mistake this for water.”

The swans are a huge part of the city and can often be seen on the Brayford.

The creatures are rumoured to have been a part of the city for ten centuries and Bishop Hugh, the man who was appointed to oversee building work at the cathedral, was famous for having a white swan follow him around.

(Image: David Burton)

Lesley Williams, from St Barnabas hospice on the high street, said the birds were regulars in the town centre.

She said: “It doesn’t surprise me that they were wandering down the high street.

"I often see them walking around, although usually much nearer the Brayford. I can’t believe a swan waited there.”

But despite their antics, animal expert and former zoo keeper Tony Butler warned of the dangers of swans in the city.

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He said: “Swans on the Brayford are fine and tourists in the city love to see them. Wandering onto the High Street and the level crossing is a different matter.

“Apart from the cars and the risk of a serious collision, they are very capable of inflicting injury if approached.

“The photo may look amusing but the swan could easily be hit by a train, which wouldn’t be pleasant for the people present.”

(Image: David Burton)

An employee from Lincoln’s RSPCA shop, who did not want to be named, also said she worries about the safety of the swans.

She said: “A couple of years ago, I watched a swan get run over by a train near the Brayford.

“People were really upset. I got out of my car to have a look at him. He was still alive so we took him to the vets, but sadly they had to put him down.

“It is becoming much harder to spot our beloved swans.”

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