A swan was rescued from a Dovercourt pond after a fishing hook got caught in its throat.

The cygnet was saved by members of Heat (Harwich Environmental Action Team) on Saturday.

It was watched for two days by volunteers after they saw a line coming out of its mouth, and the group stepped in when they discovered a lump had formed on the side of its neck.

Staff at the Colne Valley Veterinary Practice, in Colchester, found the hook had got stuck inside the bird's throat, and performed an operation to cut it out.

Now christened Hammy, after Hammerton pond where he was found, the cygnet is recovering at Heat member Eileen Tyrer's Dovercourt home until he finishes his antibiotics and starts eating.

Mrs Tyrer urged anglers to take care with their lines.

She said the cygnet would be unable to go back to its parents now. Instead it will be taken to another pond where there are other cygnets.