A distressed swan has been saved by an animal rescue group after being hunted by his own parents in a territory dispute.

Sidney was taken from the water at The Wharf at Galleon Boulevard, Greenhithe, in a “treacherous mission” mounted by Dartford Animal Rescue.

The volunteer group had been keeping a close eye on the cob following a territory battle with his parents which had been escalating since February.

The ongoing feud ended on Sunday when Ciara O’Hare and her family were called to rescue a tired and distressed Sidney as he hid from his dad.

Ciara, who founded the group two years ago, said the rescue was the first time she had dealt with a three-generational territory dispute.

Explaining the saga, she said Sidney had been kicked off the lake by his parents in February and forced to make home on nearby water.

He had met a pen and they had two cygnets.

With safety in numbers, a newly-confident Sydney recently decided to head back and claim the initial lake from his parents.

Territory disputes are not uncommon, according to Ciara, and can get very nasty.

“The swans can kill each other,” she said. “They can force each other onto the road or attack each other.

“Sidney’s dad was mean and really bullied him.”

She said Sidney finally gave up the battle for the lake and they found him hiding from his parents - too tired to make it back to his home across a busy road.

“We found him pushed up against a fence very close to a restaurant. He was too scared to go onto the water,” added Ciara.

She explained how they attempted to rescue the cowering cob from his hiding spot.

“It was very tricky to get to as it was surrounded by brambles. We climbed over so we were on the right side of the fence to grab him but we spooked him and he went into the water.

“His parents were on the prowl and as soon as he went into the water they went for him.”

Luckily, Sidney escaped back to the land close to his rescuers and they were able to wrap him in a blanket.

Ciara said: “We checked him over. He had no injuries but he was very tired and hungry.”

With the help of her sister Rosie, mum, Kerry and sister’s boyfriend, Calum Laws, they were able to take him back to this family on the Pentagon Lake at Crossways Boulevard.

“He would have been unable to fly back and would have had to walk through the busy traffic if we hadn’t helped,” the 25-year-old said.

“We made a beautiful release back to his family.”