EVERYONE'S heard the story of the ugly duckling who turned into a swan - but for some birds their grown up life isn't much of a fairy tale.

Jessica and Ziggy have had a tough time, but the wildlife lovers who have hand reared them for the last two years are hoping the pair can start afresh together in a new home.

The two swans came to Warrington Swan Sanctuary as babies and now can't survive in the wild.

Cathy Clements from Warrington's Swan Sanctuary said: "When we put these two in a home with other swans they got beaten up by the other birds. We can't release them because they can't fend for themselves."

Now, they have been found a home thanks to an appeal in the Warrington GUARDIAN. Cathy said: "An appeal about two years ago was a great success and we got a lot of people offering us help. But now we've used all the addresses up and we need to make the appeal again.

"It's got to be someone with a private pool - no fishing, and preferably with an island. Anyone can apply if they have got an interest in wildlife and a pond or a lake. Wild birds are being injured all the time and we are always looking for homes for swans, ducks and geese. If people have problems once they have the bird, we will come out and help."

The sanctuary is also looking for volunteers to help with fundraising, driving birds to hospital, rescues and administration. Contact 636245.

David Galliar and Cathy Clements from the Swan Sanctuary with Jessica and Ziggy MBB18799

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.