A swan has survived the odds and is winging its way to celebrity status.

Mistral, a snowy-plumed regular in Dovercourt boating lake, arrived in March and touched the hearts of environmentalists, who pledged to safeguard it.

But it has not been plain sailing for the bird, who has seen two mates killed, several cygnets taken by foxes and others who have been removed because they got waterlogged.

Now the bird's five cygnets have grown into young swans who have started flying and can be seen taking off and returning late in the afternoon. And Mistral has a new mate, called Liberty.

Eileen Tyrer, chairman of Harwich Environmental Action Team (HEAT), said: "He is an extremely handsome creature and is already standing guard if Mistral is eating."

The pair have become celebrities in the town and even feature on a website.

Mrs Tyrer said: "Obviously, Mistral and Liberty will now try to discourage the cygnets to stay in the area and will often be seen chasing them away.

This is perfectly natural for adult swans before the next breeding season."

Until the young swans leave to find their own mates, it would not hurt to feed them, or Mistral and Liberty, especially as it is getting harder to find food.

She added: "We hope Mistral and Liberty will have a family next year, possibly in the same area. We will just have to wait and see what they decide to do."

See Mistral and Liberty on http://communities.msn.co.uk/Nathanville

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.