Shot swan becomes foster father to 50 orphaned cygnets

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The young orphans follow him and his mate around all day, and at night he drives the brood under a tree to sleep because his wings are not broad enough to shelter them all.

The mute swan, nicknamed Mr Shot Boy, hovered between life and death for 10 days after a yob tried to aim for his eye. He was brought to Shepperton Swan Sanctuary from Wales but vets feared he would not survive an operation so the air gun pellet is still lodged in his head.

Sanctuary founder Dot Beeson said: "Before we knew it he was displaying to a female and now they have all these foster children. It's amazing to watch. It's as though he's saying, 'These are all mine.' They follow after him in a big line. It's quite a sight."

Injured swans and cygnets are brought to the sanctuary every week, mostly victims of oil spills, discarded fishing tackle and dog attacks. The staff and volunteers treat 2,000 birds a year, saving 85 per cent and returning most of these to the wild.