THE RSPCA have listed some of the funniest call-outs they had last year.

While RSPCA officers have to deal with a lot of distressing and shocking cases, they are also called out to some rather strange situations.

And, often, many turn out to be a mistake.

One of these was in Bournemouth last year when a passing motorist contacted the RSPCA for help after apparently spotting a swan in trouble on the River Stour.

RSPCA officer Graham Hammond rushed out to help the bird said to be tangled in electric fencing on the water after the river burst its banks and flooded into neighbouring fields off New Road in Bournemouth.

He said: “I went out to check on the bird and had prepared to call out the water rescue team for back-up but, before they hit the road, I managed to get closer and get a good look at the ‘bird’ - which turned out to be a white plastic chair floating in the water."