A family of swans were rescued in a Hot Fuzz style rescue mission after wandering onto a busy dual carriageway.

The two adults and six cygnets ventured onto the A256 between Ramsgate and Sandwich, bringing traffic to a halt yesterday morning.

Drivers got out to usher the birds to the edge of the highway near the Subway fast food outlet.

Police and the RSPCA had better luck than Sergeant Angel and PC Butterworth - played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost respectively in the 2007 cult classic comedy film - in their efforts to catch the birds and take them to safety.

They were helped by experienced bird-handler George Cooper, who works on the nearby Minster Marshes and happened to be passing.

It is thought the swan family may have set out from the Stonelees Golf Club waterways in a bid to find a new territory but ended up putting themselves at risk.

Mr Cooper, who founded the Save Minster Marshes campaign group to fight plans for a huge National Grid converter station, says the swans had a lucky escape.

“Clearly, they had put themselves in some danger and could have also caused an accident with vehicles trying to avoid them.

“But once off the carriageway, it was just a case of rounding them up so they could be taken to a new, safe location.

“My guess is that they came from the golf course and were looking for somewhere quieter with a better food supply.

“The parents were naturally a little protective and I’m guessing the RSPCA officers had probably never handled a swan before.

“The trick is to get them by the neck and then wrap and arm around their body and wings, so they can’t flap about.

“But together, we managed to get them into the back of a van and into dog crates.

“I suggested we take them to the Minster stream where they would be safe and be able to move on to the Stour, if they wanted.

“Everyone was just relieved it ended happily for all concerned.”

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police was called at 11.39am on Tuesday, July 2 to a report of two swans and six cygnets in the road on Ebbsfleet Lane in Ramsgate, near to the Baypoint roundabout.

“Officers attended to assist with managing traffic and moving the birds to a place of safety. The swans and cygnets were shortly afterwards passed into the care of the RSPCA.”

In the film, written by Pegg and director Edgar Wright, Sgt Angel leaves behind his stellar career in urban policing for a village in sleepy rural England.

While adjusting to a slower pace of the job in the countryside, he responds to reports of an escaped swan from the nearby castle which has been spotted in various locations but unable to be caught.

The incident continues to crop up throughout the rest of the film including the famous line from one villager to the officers: “No luck catching them swans then?”