A dog attack in Richmond Park has left a family of swans needing veterinary care.

The out-of-control dog left a hole in the flank of the male swan, or cob, who needs an estimated £1000 of treatment at the Swan Sanctuary.

Because the mother swan was also hurt, she and her six cygnets will be cared for at the Sanctuary too.

Simon Richards, head of parks operations, said: "He had a hole in his side - a nasty attack - he was lucky to be alive.

"This has happened eight or 10 times in the last year, where we've had to take them to the sanctuary.

"They are an iconic bird. These have been together at least 12 years, this is their home, and they should be able to live there without being attacked."

The Royal Parks said it had experienced a "spate" of dog attacks in recent days, with this incident occurring on Bank Holiday Monday.

"There is an element of seasonality to it," said Mr Richards, "But as the park has become more busy, instances of disturbances are on the rise."

It was very busy in Richmond Park on the bank holiday, but sadly no witnesses have come forward.

The injured swan was originally reported by a member of the public to the police.

Perhaps surprisingly, dog bites are actually more serious than fox bites because their saliva contains a broader spectrum of saliva.

Mr Richards said: "It's always their first line of defence - 'my dog hasn't done this before' - you know how your dog behaves early on and if they are prone to chasing wildlife."

As a dog owner himself, he added: "It's a huge privilege to be able to have a dog, if you don't know how your dog is going to behave then it's your responsibility to to put them on a lead."