• Business
  • Life
  • Celebrity
  • Sport
  • Blog
  • Auto
  • Tech
Stories from SWNS
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    N’Gunu Tiny on why Africa must create impact investment opportunities that improve social mobility

    N’Gunu Tiny on why Africa must create impact investment opportunities that improve social mobility

    Meet Denise E. Jacobs – The medium with a vital message to save mankind

    Meet Denise E. Jacobs – The medium with a vital message to save mankind

    IRONING By Navajo

    IRONING By Navajo

    5 Interesting facts about online casinos

    5 Interesting facts about online casinos

    Curses of Cousins by Cliff Bacchus

    Curses of Cousins by Cliff Bacchus

    Operation Bluebird by Harry Old

    Operation Bluebird by Harry Old

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Business
  • Life
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    Why it’s time for the global cosmetics industry to turn to bioplastics

    Why it’s time for the global cosmetics industry to turn to bioplastics

    Spending More Time Online? How to Make the Most of Your Time

    Spending More Time Online? How to Make the Most of Your Time

    Why Now More Than Ever Healthcare Needs To Go Digital

    Why Now More Than Ever Healthcare Needs To Go Digital

    The Impacts of Technology in the Casino Sector

    The Impacts of Technology in the Casino Sector

    How IoT Is Shaping The Various Aspects Of The Healthcare Industry?

    How IoT Is Shaping The Various Aspects Of The Healthcare Industry?

    How Can Robots Take Their Place in Casinos?

    How Can Robots Take Their Place in Casinos?

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
  • Review

    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gameplay on the Nintendo Switch

    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Review

    macOS Sierra review: Mac users get a modest update this year

    Hands on: Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 review

    The Last Guardian Playstation 4 Game review

    Intel Core i7-7700K ‘Kaby Lake’ review

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    N’Gunu Tiny on why Africa must create impact investment opportunities that improve social mobility

    N’Gunu Tiny on why Africa must create impact investment opportunities that improve social mobility

    Meet Denise E. Jacobs – The medium with a vital message to save mankind

    Meet Denise E. Jacobs – The medium with a vital message to save mankind

    IRONING By Navajo

    IRONING By Navajo

    5 Interesting facts about online casinos

    5 Interesting facts about online casinos

    Curses of Cousins by Cliff Bacchus

    Curses of Cousins by Cliff Bacchus

    Operation Bluebird by Harry Old

    Operation Bluebird by Harry Old

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Business
  • Life
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    Why it’s time for the global cosmetics industry to turn to bioplastics

    Why it’s time for the global cosmetics industry to turn to bioplastics

    Spending More Time Online? How to Make the Most of Your Time

    Spending More Time Online? How to Make the Most of Your Time

    Why Now More Than Ever Healthcare Needs To Go Digital

    Why Now More Than Ever Healthcare Needs To Go Digital

    The Impacts of Technology in the Casino Sector

    The Impacts of Technology in the Casino Sector

    How IoT Is Shaping The Various Aspects Of The Healthcare Industry?

    How IoT Is Shaping The Various Aspects Of The Healthcare Industry?

    How Can Robots Take Their Place in Casinos?

    How Can Robots Take Their Place in Casinos?

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
  • Review

    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gameplay on the Nintendo Switch

    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Review

    macOS Sierra review: Mac users get a modest update this year

    Hands on: Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 review

    The Last Guardian Playstation 4 Game review

    Intel Core i7-7700K ‘Kaby Lake’ review

No Result
View All Result
Stories from SWNS
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Elderly residents on ‘tranquil’ residential park forced to fight off aggressive pair of swans with water pistols

by
February 1, 2016
in News
0
Elderly residents on ‘tranquil’ residential park forced to fight off aggressive pair of swans with water pistols
0
SHARES
4
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Pensioners in a tranquil residential park are arming themselves with water pistols and walking sticks – to fend off a pair of aggressive SWANS.

The two feathery fiends live on a river next to Hope Mill Park and had lived in harmony with residents for over a decade.

But residents say the swans are becoming increasingly territorial – and have taken to attacking cars, tearing up lawns and pecking at windows.

The huge birds harass cyclists, hiss at lorries and chase the postman on a daily basis – and one even attacked a toddler last year.
SWNS_AGGRESSIVE_SWANS_01Now some elderly occupants of mobile homes on the site at Brimscombe near Stroud, Glos., are too scared to go outside for fear of being ambushed.

In a desperate attempt to restore calm, they have resorted to taking up arms – using water guns, garden hoses, walking sticks and brooms to keep the swans at bay.

Angela Helbrow, who lives right next to the river, said she is even frightened to step outside to hang her washing up – unless she has a hose to hand.

The 53-year-old said: “It’s an absolute nightmare. We moved here two years ago thinking it would be a nice place to retire but it has become a living hell.

“I’m scared to leave the house at times. I can’t even go outside to hang up the washing any more.

“I was doing my knitting last week and they came right up from the river to the patio doors and began pecking on the window.

“Now I have a garden hose outside to shoo them away.”

Resident Barbara Morse protects herself with a water pistol from a pair of aggressive swans which have been attacking residents and cars (SWNS Group)
Resident Barbara Morse protects herself with a water pistol from a pair of aggressive swans which have been attacking residents and cars (SWNS Group)

Angela, who lives with partner Colin Lake, 55, said the swans – whose genders are unknown – had become extremely territorial over the past couple of months.

“We’ve tried everything to avoid them and not disturb them,” she said.

“But they are just so vicious. They regularly harass cyclists, hiss at cars and even lorries. They chase people up the road and even attacked a toddler last year.

“The poor postman has to run the gauntlet every day. I once even saw an elderly lady fighting one off with her walking stick.

“People are getting chased every day now. We’re fed up.”
SWNS_AGGRESSIVE_SWANS_02Hope Mill Residential Park is described as a ‘semi-retirement’ location for the over-50s which is “quiet and secluded” with a “real tranquil feel to it”.

But Barbara Morse, 66, who has lived at the park for six years, said daily incidents with the swans are shattering the peace.

She said: “There are lots of elderly residents here. It’s supposed to be a peaceful place to live but at the moment it’s anything but.

“They attacked my great granddaughter not too long ago. It scared her half to death.

“And the mess they leave on the ground is unbelievable. Our lawn is ruined.

“We keep a small water pistol by the door to shoo them off.

“I think the entire community would like to see these swans moved to a more suitable location. I’m sure we and the swans would benefit.”

Swan attack victims  L to R;  Briam Sturmey, Angela Helbrow, Colin Lake, Barbara Morse. (SWNS Group)
Swan attack victims L to R; Briam Sturmey, Angela Helbrow, Colin Lake, Barbara Morse. (SWNS Group)

But some residents say the swans are part of the area’s charm – and would be devastated if they were moved elsewhere.

Glynis Robinson said: “They are magnificent creatures who have more right than we do to live by the river.

“One of them gets a little protective but people only have to give them a bit of space and it leaves them alone.

“I have seen people with small children feeding them who are perfectly safe. It’s a nonsense to say they are aggressive.

“These swans are part of the delight of living by the river. Seeing them makes my day beautiful.”

Another resident, a 72-year-old woman who asked not to be named, said people are ridiculous for complaining about the swans.

She said: “I don’t know why people complain. They come and live by a river – what do they expect?

“They are lovely. They’re just like naughty children.”

Hope Mill Residential Park is made up of 21 mobile homes which sit on the banks of the River Frome, where the swans live.

A spokesman for the park admitted that the swans are very aggressive during mating season.

He said: “For ten months of the year, they are perfectly OK. It is just nature taking its course.

“What can you do? They are protected birds. There is nothing we can do.”

The mute swan is Britain’s largest bird and one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, with adults weighing as much as 15kg.

Previous Post

Heartbreaking moment an elderly, deaf and blind Labrador enjoyed final trip to her favourite beach before being put down

Next Post

Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson racks up £24k bar tab at new superclub

Next Post
Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson racks up £24k bar tab at new superclub

Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson racks up £24k bar tab at new superclub

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected test

  • 85 Followers
  • 43k Followers
  • 113k Subscribers
  • 23k Followers
  • 99 Subscribers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Women love cheesy chat up lines, a study has revealed

Top 20 cheesy chat-up lines ladies really love

March 5, 2014
The top ten most well-known bingo phrases

The top ten most well-known bingo phrases

January 21, 2014
The horses thunder towards a jump at the Grand National

Amazing racehorse names which never made it

April 23, 2014
HGH Injections Brands: Which Ones Are Best?

HGH Injections Brands: Which Ones Are Best?

January 14, 2019
Chris Fear, 33, outside the Coral betting shop which is refusing to pay out on his 485/1 winning bet

Boycott Coral! Bookmaker faces protest after refusing to pay out on a football fan’s 485/1 bet

184
Women love cheesy chat up lines, a study has revealed

Top 20 cheesy chat-up lines ladies really love

147
Women feel invisible to the opposite sex at the age of 51, researchers found

Women begin feeling invisible to men ‘when they turn 51’

138
UKIP candidate claims Jews murdered each other in the Holocaust in masterplan to create State of Israel

UKIP candidate claims Jews murdered each other in the Holocaust in masterplan to create State of Israel

105
Best Online Sportsbooks with Fastest Payouts in 2021

Best Online Sportsbooks with Fastest Payouts in 2021

April 20, 2021
Four essential methods for looking after your eyes

Four essential methods for looking after your eyes

April 13, 2021
Time for a Spring Clean? How to Reduce Clutter

Time for a Spring Clean? How to Reduce Clutter

April 13, 2021
Where did the Custom of Sending Greeting Cards Come From?

Where did the Custom of Sending Greeting Cards Come From?

April 13, 2021

Recent News

Best Online Sportsbooks with Fastest Payouts in 2021

Best Online Sportsbooks with Fastest Payouts in 2021

April 20, 2021
Four essential methods for looking after your eyes

Four essential methods for looking after your eyes

April 13, 2021
Time for a Spring Clean? How to Reduce Clutter

Time for a Spring Clean? How to Reduce Clutter

April 13, 2021
Where did the Custom of Sending Greeting Cards Come From?

Where did the Custom of Sending Greeting Cards Come From?

April 13, 2021
SWNS

SWNS all rights reserved. Copyright 2020

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Auto
  • Blog
  • Business
  • Celebrity
  • Gaming
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Pictures
  • Property
  • Review
  • Sport
  • SWNS
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

Best Online Sportsbooks with Fastest Payouts in 2021

Best Online Sportsbooks with Fastest Payouts in 2021

April 20, 2021
Four essential methods for looking after your eyes

Four essential methods for looking after your eyes

April 13, 2021
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Real Fix is a trading style of South West News Service Limited.
Copyright © 2020 South West News Service Limited.

No Result
View All Result
  • Business
  • Life
  • Celebrity
  • Sport
  • Blog
  • Auto
  • Tech

Real Fix is a trading style of South West News Service Limited.
Copyright © 2020 South West News Service Limited.