THIS intrepid swan could not wait to return home to his mate after getting in a flap with police in Oxford.

The beautiful bird was released into Worcester College on Wednesday after a misadventure last Friday found him ducking and diving away from traffic in Beaumont Street.

But thanks to the quick response from Oxford's specialist Swan Support Unit the bewildered bird was cared for over Christmas before heading back home to find his mate.

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Support unit co-founder Wendy Hermon said: "You could tell it was his home by the way he was behaving when we took him back to the college.

"It is just the pair of swans there and we couldn't find his mate, so he was just calling out for her.

"But you could tell he was very happy to be home which was lovely, he is back in time to find his mate for new year."

The elusive swan was found by Oxford City Council streetscene supervisor Steve Thomas on Friday.

Police officers worked with Swan Support specialists to coax the bird into a harness and take him away in an ambulance.

Ms Hermon added: "We had to take him away originally when he was found in the road because he had possibly been hit by a car.

"He only had minor injuries to his face but we wanted to check he had no internal injuries too."

Mr Thomas named the bird Chris as it was found so close to Christmas day