There is a non-territorial flock of swans at Princes Park

The birds were transported from the National Swan Sanctuary in Egham, Surrey, to Princes Park on Monday.

It comes after the number of swan casualties in Sussex rose by 106% in two years, with 46 incidents in 2002 rising to 95 in 2004.

Sanctuary bosses said the swans needed to be released to redress the balance of the number of the birds injured and those being cared for.

Trevor Weeks, from East Sussex Wildlife and Ambulance Service (Wras), said: "We have had a wide variety of swan incidents in Sussex this year and an unusually high number of crash landings in the Lottbridge Drove area of Eastbourne.

'Trouble surviving'

"One swan even crashed into the side of a lorry.

"We have had an increase in swans being attacked by humans or dogs, plus those hitting power lines.

"Wras has also dealt with swans caught in fishing lines and swans caught in oil at both Newhaven and Sovereign Harbours.

"We have also had several shot swans and youngsters who have had trouble surviving."

Princes Park, opposite the seafront, was chosen because there is a non-territorial flock of swans already there.