IT has been dubbed the Incredible Journey - the trip made by a family of courageous swans in Leyland is certainly a remarkable one!

Residents in Farington were left fearing the worst after the disappearance of a family of seven friendly swans from a popular park pond.

But despite attempts by the RSPCA and local rangers to track down the swans, it was eagle-eyed twitchers who finally found the flock.

It appears the birds - two adult swans and four cygnets - embarked on a journey back to their original pond after one of the five cygnets was killed.

So rather than risk the loss of any more of the small birds, swans led their family - in single file - on an astonishing two-mile trip across a restaurant, over the busy Centurion Way Industrial estate, eventually cutting through the huge Leyland Motors complex and over a railway track before struggling up a huge embankment to reach their original nesting place on Neddy Springs.

Paul Hewitt, of Farington, told the Citizen: "It seems they moved back because something scared them off.

"It is good to know they are safe."

And although their new nesting ground is less than perfect - it is blocked in on three sides by main transport routes - locals are hoping it proves to be a lot safer than their previous site, which had become the target for thugs.

Local councillor Fred Heyworth said: "We were very concerned by their disappearance but it is great to know they are fine.

"This is their original site and we have been told it is quite normal for them to move to different ponds if they feel they are under threat."

Scores of locals have flocked to their new site to see them settle in. The pond is the result of a continually flowing spring, surrounded by a huge field of long grass. Meanwhile, the mallards, coots and ducks on the Farington Park pond are enjoying the extra space created by the departure of their larger feathered friends.

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