A FAMOUS pair of bell-ringing swans have welcomed their first cygnet - which has already tried to escape TWICE in its first week.

The cygnet was born in the early hours of Saturday morning to Gabriel and Grace who now patrol the moat at Bishop's Palace in Wells.

Gabriel and Grace were welcomed to the Palace Moat in May, replacing former swan pair Wynn and Bryn.

They were introduced to continue the centuries-old tradition of swans trained to ring a bell to demand food.

Eagle-eyed viewers of the 24-hour Swan Cam on the Bishop's Palace website were delighted to see one of the pair's four eggs hatching on Saturday.

But their excitement turned to concern when the cheeky cygnet managed to get itself stuck in the fence surrounding the moat twice in the space of two consecutive days.

The tiny bird, which has been named Lucky, caused quite a stir when it climbed up the Moat bank and on to the wrong side of the fence, getting itself stuck in the fence at around 8.45pm.

But quick-thinking Swan Cam viewers quickly took to social media, where the Palace marketing team spotted two Tweets, and sent the Head Gardener to the moat to rescue the cygnet.

The gardener could be seen fending off mum Grace with a bucket as he scooped up her mischievous youngster.

And on Wednesday morning, the cygnet needed rescuing from the fence again by swan trainer Moira Anderson, who then removed the fence for good to avoid further incidents.

The rest of the cygnet's short time at the Palace has been relatively calm so far, with the little one seen snuggling up to mum Grace and taking to the moat for its first swim on Sunday morning.

It has also been taken round to the famous Gatehouse bell by both parents, who were showing off their prowess in ringing the bell for food.

The three remaining eggs on the nest have not yet hatched, and Moira suspects that they are no longer viable - as all eggs usually hatch over a 24-hour period.

The new family may only stay on the nest for a few more days, so the Palace is encouraging viewers of Swan Cam to enjoy watching them now.

Moira said: "I'm delighted that we have a cygnet hatched.

"Grace and Gabriel arrived with us and we were just so pleased to have swans back on the moat, so to have any cygnets at all is just amazing.

"It means that Grace and Gabriel are loving their new home and we hope that they will be great parents.

"We will be keeping our fingers crossed for many more cygnets from their little swan family for years to come.

"We have been overwhelmed by how everyone has taken this little family to their hearts as was very evident from all the concern expressed when our little cygnet got stuck on Tuesday.

"I hate to think how much mischief 6 or 7 cygnets could have caused!"

The tradition of swans ringing a bell to ask for food dates back to the 1850s.

It began when Lord Auckland's daughter Maria attached bread to a bell's lanyard.

She gradually reduced the amount of bread on the rope clapper handle to the point that the swans would start to ring the bell to ask for food.

ENDS