COMMOTION brought shoppers to a halt this morning (Tuesday) when a swan came under attack in a bizarre three-way fight. Two women dragged the young swan out of the river Hiz by Hitchin Market after it was first attacked by a dog and then when it trie

COMMOTION brought shoppers to a halt this morning (Tuesday) when a swan came under attack in a bizarre three-way fight.

Two women dragged the young swan out of the river Hiz by Hitchin Market after it was first attacked by a dog and then when it tried to escape, another swan.

Ann Norton from Letchworth and her cousin Mandy Simcock from Baldock were going about their weekly shop on the market when chaos broke out on the river in front of St Mary's Church.

Ann said: "Two drinkers were there with a dog and it attacked a young swan. When it tried to escape into the water there was a big male swan who tried to drown it.

"We managed to drag the swan out of the water. We sat there for nearly an hour with the swan with a towel until the RSPCA turned up.

"The RSPCA have said it will have to be put down - the dog broke its leg."

She added: "Of course the drinkers with the dog went off. It is such a shame, for the past year people going to the market have watched it grow up from a signet. And now it has grown up it will have to be put down.