A pair of lovebirds rekindled their romance with a courtship display after an accident almost broke up their family.

The male and female swan mates twisted their necks around each other and hooted with pleasure as they were reunited by rescue workers.

And as if to prove love is indeed blind - at least among swans - the female did not even notice her cob's missing wing.

The cob was spotted by worried members of the public struggling to fly after crash-landing at Egerton Park in Bexhill.

Vets called in by East Sussex Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service (WRAS) decided the only solution was to amputate the injured wing.

As they carried out the operation at Coastway Vets in Kemp Town, Brighton, his mate and their young cygnet were rounded up - although the pen had to be pursued through the streets before she was caught.

The trio were reunited at a secret location near Henfield yesterday.

As soon as they were put into the shed, they began their courtship.

Trevor Weeks, animal rescue officer with WRAS, said: "It was an unbelievable moment. As soon as we put them back together they began showing all the courting movements, calling to each other and twisting their necks. Even the youngster began copying them.

"The cob had been quite aggressive when he was separated from the pen but as soon as they were back together it was as if all the stress just melted away. He will recover a lot more quickly now he is back with his family."

The family are being kept indoors and will be taken to the National Swan Sanctuary in Egham next week where they will remain until a lake is found for them.