swannery

Ms Townshend also owns Abbotsbury Swannery - making her the only person other than the King who is allowed to own swans in the UK.

Three companies are still permitted by the monarchy to own swans: The Abbotsbury Swannery, The Vintners Company and The Dyers’ Company.

The same strain has been discovered in birds in Settle, North Yorkshire, a swannery in Dorset and flocks in Carmarthenshire, south west Wales.

The hearing at Dorchester County Hall heard the family were crossing the road near the Swannery Bridge when the accident happened.

The silicon-filled "cyber egg" will use mobile phone-style technology to measure movements of the birds at Abbotsbury Swannery.