A SWAN who survived after being shot in the head with a crossbow is beginning to recover.

The two bolts which pierced the swan’s head and neck have now been removed.

An operation was carried out to make a valve in the bird’s side, to allow it to breathe.

This was due to serious damage caused to the swan’s throat during the attack.

It is being cared for at the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, Nantwich.

As revealed first in the Warrington Guardian, the swan was shot with a crossbow and air gun in the canal between Fiddlers Ferry and Widnes.

It was given emergency treatment by vet Alan Humphreys, of Village Vets, Woolston.

He inserted an emergency air wave into the swan’s lung to allow it to breathe.

Police are hunting for those responsible.

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 632 of 18 June 2014.