East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) has received more than 100 calls from worried residents as the swans, which live on a small pond behind Langney Shopping Centre, have strayed further from home.

In the last month they have been spotted in the shopping centre car park, circling West Rise Junior School and walking as far as Pembury Road, approaching the Martello pub in Langney Rise.

Trevor Weeks, rescue co-ordinator for WRAS, said, "This is certainly unusual behaviour and our rescuers have been out numerous times to try and figure out what they are trying to achieve. One possibility is that a nearby pond is no longer accessible to them and they are trying to find an alternative site to go to.

"It is not unusual for swans to move their young away from the pond where they were born to a new site where there is a better food source or where they feel safer. However, they don't normally just wander around in different directions like this."

Sussex Police have been contacted three times by people concerned over the safety of the two adults and seven cygnets.

Debbie Message, of Swan Watch, who made one such call, said, "I would like to thank everyone for their help in keeping the swans safe, but please do not feed them when they go wandering as they have started revisiting several gardens knowing that food can be found there."

WRAS and Swan Watch have approached countryside agency Natural England and if they cannot find a solution to the problem may try to get a licence to move the swans for their own safety.