THE RSPCA has revealed how it was called to reports that a swan was beheaded in Westbrook – only to discover that the stricken bird was actually a plastic ornament.

To mark 'Blue Monday' – cited to be the most depressing day of the year due to a combination of weather, finances, post-Christmas blues and low motivation – the charity has revealed some of its most unusual callouts from the past year in a bid to cheer up members up the public.

And one such call came in Warrington.

On Friday, February 22 2018, the RSPCA received reports that a swan had been beheaded near to a pond of Europa Boulevard in Westbrook.

An ‘upset woman’ had contacted the charity concerning the incident.

But Inspector Claire Fisher, who was called to the scene, said: "The woman called us and said that the bird was collapsed with its neck stretched out.

"I met the site manager on Gemini Retail Park, and we soon realised no veterinary treatment would be necessary as the bird was a plastic model.

"He arranged some emergency treatment for the beheaded state – some silicone and a screw or two – before returning to her mate.

"We all had a laugh about this one and to be honest we were just relieved there wasn’t a swan that had suffered an awful death."

Warrington Guardian:

The pond off Europa Boulevard - picture by Google Maps

Other incidents revealed by the RSPCA nationally included a scorpion on a residential street which turned out to be a rubber toy, a cushion on a roof that someone believed to be a trapped owl and a ‘skinned cat’ which was actually a fur hat.

Elsewhere reports of a collapsed lizard resulted in officers finding a chewed dog toy, a cuddly pooch on the roof of a church and a fat squirrel that a member of public mistook for a cat stuck up a tree.

Assistant director of the RSPCA inspectorate Dermot Murphy added: "Every day is different at the RSPCA and our officers are used to responding to heart-breaking calls, taking on hair-raising rescues and from time-to-time dealing with laugh-out-loud situations.

"From stuffed toys to decorative models, our officers have helped them all.

"While we all enjoy a giggle at this time of year, there is a serious message here too – every year we’re under more and more pressure to help animals who desperately need us.

"Everyone who called us had genuine concerns that there was an animal in distress, and we rely on the public to be our eyes and ears and to let us know when they fear an animal is suffering.

"Perhaps these calls are just a reminder to maybe take a closer look before picking up the phone.

"Thankfully, these mishaps are few and far between and we would like to thank everyone who takes the time to report suffering to us and helps us make the world a kinder place for animals."