KINGSMEAD’S ‘celebrity swan’ Mabel has been reunited with her family after an attack left her recovering in an RSPCA wildlife centre for six weeks.

Mabel is a well-known character on the River Weaver, near to Monarch Drive, along with her mate Albert and their nine cygnets.

However, the RSPCA was contacted on June 2 after a member of the public became concerned about Mabel’s behaviour - on the same day that seven of her cygnets went missing.

She was collected by an RSPCA inspector and taken to the charity’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, in Nantwich. There, she was treated for injuries consistent with being attacked by another animal, which was confirmed later to have been a dog. She had also been shot, was covered in mites and tested high for lead levels in her blood.

“She was very poorly and the odds were against her,” said Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange.

“We put her on antibiotics and very slowly she started eating more and putting on weight. After six weeks, she was well enough to be released back into the wild, so on Sunday, July 16, I took her back to the spot where her mate and cygnets were.

“After so many weeks caring for an individual animal, it’s always nice to get the opportunity to release them back to the wild - it’s always very exciting and rewarding.”

Cheryl Tyson contacted the RSPCA back on June 2, when she saw Mabel looking distressed at the side of the river.

She said: “Mabel was in such a sorry state. I have heard that it was touch-and-go for Mabel and I kept ringing up Stapeley Grange to see how she was doing. I have been so impressed with Stapeley, they have been so good.

“I’ve been going down to the river to check on her mate and their cygnets as he’s had to cope with an awful lot. Getting Mabel back has been good for him.

“I’m so delighted that Mabel has been returned - she has become a bit of a local celebrity as a lot of the community have been interested in finding out how she is doing. Our river would look very different without them.”

Anyone who is concerned about wildlife in the local area should contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.