A SWAN that crash landed on a wet roof and needed rescuing by firefighters had probably mistaken it for a pond in the rain.

Swans frequently land on motorways and roads in heavy rain as the wet tarmac glimmers like water, an RSPCA spokesman said.

Occasionally they also land on roofs, but become stuck as they can’t get a big enough run up to take off.

This swan was stranded on a roof in Norden Close, Birchwood, for three hours on Saturday afternoon before the fire service was called to rescue it.

“In all my years in the job, I have never seen such a strange sight,” said firefighter Mark Proctor.

Firefighter Simon Tonge went up a ladder with a bag to cover the swan with and bring it down, when the RSPCA took it for a check-up.