A SWAN trapped up a tree has been rescued by firefighters and the RSPCA.

The distressed bird was found stuck high up in a thicket of trees and saplings at Pennington Flash Country Park in Leigh at 11am on Sunday.

With a ditch full of water and mud making the tree difficult to reach, crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service had to cut it down in such a way that it fell on to another tree before the swan could be lifted to safety.

RSPCA animal collection officer Derek Hampson said: “The bird was wedged in the tree around 25 to 30ft up and there was no way I was going to be able to free her alone safely.

"I called the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, who were wonderfully helpful.

“We had to wade through a ditch full of 5ft deep water and climb up a muddy bank to reach the tree, and we had to cut the tree down to get to the swan as we couldn’t reach her by ladder.

“As the fire crews brought the tree down slowly, by getting it to fall into another tree nearby, I managed to use my reach and rescue pole to grab hold of the swan and ease her out of the tree.

“I believe she had been there for a couple of days.

"It seems as though she was blown into the tree by strong, stormy winds as she tried to take off nearby.

“She had some bruising and cuts to her wings and was underweight, but I am confident that after a few days of treatment and food at the vets she will be strong enough for release."

Derek was called by Judith Smith after the trapped swan from Teal Hide had been spotted by her fellow Leigh Ornithological Society member Eddie King as he carried out a national monthly wildfowl count.

Judith said: "I had a phone call from Eddie saying he could see a swan stuck high in the tree branches.

"The tree was in a marshy area that was inaccessible due to a large ditch which was deep with water and mud.

"He called me as I have done hundreds of swan rescues over the years, but at the age of 72 those days are in the past, so I contacted Derek from the RSPCA, who came from Liverpool for the remarkable rescue."

A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed: "At 12.10pm on Sunday crews from Leigh and Atherton, a water unit from Eccles and a technical response unit from Leigh were called to an animal rescue."