A BLACK swan is causing a flap down at the riverside in the city centre - 9,000 miles from its native home.

People have been stopped in their tracks by the sight of the rare black swan which is currently making waves with people walking along South Quay in Worcester.

Black swans are native to Australia but one has made its home on the river in the city centre.

The new addition to the bevy of swans on the River Severn is easy to spot among the white-feathered birds.

Worcester News: STIR: Photographers on the riverbanks have been looking for the black swan in WorcesterSTIR: Photographers on the riverbanks have been looking for the black swan in Worcester (Image: Collette Knibb)

Along with its black feathers, the bird also has a distinctive red beak.

Philip and Meg Taylor sent in this picture saying: "A new addition to the swan family has appeared today on the river Severn in Worcester.

"We have never seen this rare black swan before, we walk the route around the river every morning, and today was the first time we have seen this rare bird."

The black swan was spotted around the South Quay and Bromwich Parade area.

The black swan - or Cygnus atratus - is a native bird to Australia but can sometimes be spotted in European counties like the UK.