Nantwich’s popular swan family expands with newly-born cygnets

Nantwich’s favourite family has just expanded – after these beautiful cygnets arrived overnight!

The mating swans on the River Weaver have been a popular attraction in the town over recent months.

Now they have grown in size, after seven cygnets hatched, to the delight of passersby along the river this morning!

And these fabulous pictures, sent in by Nantwichnews reader Victoria Ikoku, capture the delightful scenes as the babies follow their mum on and around the river.

Now onlookers are urging dog owners to keep their pets on leads in the River Weaver, Mill Island and Nantwich Lake areas to prevent the new arrivals being attacked.

It follows an incident last September when a cygnet was attacked and killed by the lake by a dog allowed to run free.

The cygnet was the only one to hatch from three eggs, and had attracted plenty of attention in its first few days of life.

The local RSPCA centre in Stapeley Grange called for better signs and more awareness after the attack.

Lee Stewart, manager of Stapeley Grange, said at the time: “We often get swans in that have been injured by dogs.

“We are always promoting responsible ownership and encouraging members of the public to keep their dogs under control and on leads if need be, especially around waterfowl.”

Now people are renewing those calls.

(All pictures courtesy of Victoria Ikoku)