JCB's bid to reunite swan with his mate

THE hunt is on to help reunite a pair of Australian black swans.

The lovebirds are a familiar feature on one of the three lakes at JCB World Headquarters in Rocester.

But the couple have been separated after the cob made off earlier this week when a pair of white swans arrived on the lake, startling him and forcing him to flee down the nearby River Churnet.

JCB security operations manager, Steve Blyth, who also looks after the 36 different breeds of wildfowl on the lakes, said: "We've had a possible sighting near Doveridge.

"The male's instinct will be to try to return to his mate on the JCB lake but because he has now gone over three weirs, it will be extremely difficult for him to navigate his way back home.

"It's particularly distressing for his female companion as swans mate for life and she is missing him desperately. If anyone does spot him we'd ask them to ring 01889 593661."

The Australian black swan has a distinctive red beak with a white mark across the top.

He has a red spiral ring on one leg and a metal ring on the other with a JCB code on it.

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