'Swan-catcher' walks miles to save feathered friend
As a reason for being late for work, claiming a swan was blocking the road is certainly one you don't hear every day.
But that was the case yesterday, when one of the birds was blocking Hortonwood 30, on Telford industrial estate.
A call was made reporting the incident to Cuan Wildlife Rescue yesterday at around 7.20am and they immediately despatched one of their staff to the scene.
Dale Smith, 30, has earned the label of being the Cuan Wildlife's resident 'swan-catcher' and said he arrived to find the swan sitting in the middle of the road
He said: "Cars were inching their way past it and I tried to catch it but it just kept running away.
"It was probably spooked by the cars, so I called the police to come down to help control the traffic.
"Once the police had arrived and the traffic had been stopped, I was able to catch the swan and put it into a swan bag."
But for Mr Smith, the drama wasn't over yet, as when he went back to his car he found it wouldn't start.
He said: "I had no choice but to carry the swan to Trench Pool, the nearest place I could release it, which was about two and a half miles away.
"The swan bag meant I could carry the bird and safely while I walked and when released it seemed none the worse for its experience."
Mr Smith, from Oakengates, has worked as a volunteer for Cuan Wildlife Rescue for over two and a half years.
He said that working for the animal rescue centre helped him to get back into work after being unemployed for two years.
He said: "I love working for theme and it really built my confidence and helped me get back into work.
"I now work full time for B&Q, but still manage to fit my volunteer work around that job - my employers are very understanding about the work I do for Cuan."
So if you are driving to work and faced by a swan sitting in the middle of the road, should you approach it or leave it the professionals?
Mr Smith said: "I would encourage people to call their local wildlife centre and not try and catch the swan themselves.
"You need to be confident with swans, but their their necks can be vulnerable if you don't handle them in the right way."
Further information on Cuan Wildlife Rescue can be found at www.cuanwildliferescue.org.uk
