A KIND-hearted man and two police officers rushed to save an injured swan in a busy town centre.

Shoppers spotted a man carrying the injured bird in a bag in Basildon Town Centre over the weekend and raised the alarm.

Officers saved the elegant bird and took it to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital in Orsett.

PC Stephen Gunshon said: “The swan had a small cut on its bill that caused some blood to run down its neck.

“As you can see from the Facebook picture there is hardly any blood on it at all.

“The man put the swan in a bag as he said he was protecting it.”

A spokesman for Basildon Community Policing Team said: “We are hopeful for a full recovery... for both the swan and PC Gunshon.”

A hospital spokesman said the bird is recovering well and been taken care of by charity vets.