A warning has been issued to the public as some of Dawlish's black swans have been spotted moving onto nearby pavements and roads.

It comes as the male of a pair that have nested on the small island in Dawlish Water at Tuck's Plot has reportedly become more territorial.

A dog on a lead killed one of the black swans in February last year.

A spokesperson said: "If you see them in danger if you are able to gently shoo them back on the Lawn the waterfowl wardens would be grateful.

"However, please take care as they can flap wings and be slightly annoyed so keep a distance and it must be done very, very gently.

"We ask anyone who is feeding the swans or waterfowl not to do it near the Strand side of the Lawn.

"We also want to make drivers aware of this issue and there are road signs of waterfowl potentially in the road down by Tuck's Plot already."

Once the eggs have hatched, however, the wardens believe that the "pressure should ease" on the male of the breeding pair.

The wardens reportedly cannot put the black swans in the aviary on Brunswick Place due to a lack of space and the fact that the swans have become accustomed to the Brook.