RESCUE dog Jasper has been hailed a hero by his new family when he stepped in to protect a young boy from two angry swans.

Jasper went into action when Jude Bolton, five, was on a walk with his parents and three older brothers and sisters near the Kennet and Avon Canal in Devizes.

His mum Alison, 47, from Bremhill, near Calne said: "We were all enjoying the walk when I realised Jude had gone towards the swans. They were young ones but fully grown.

"I had just called out to my husband Cris to warn him when suddenly one of the swans started coming towards Jude. Before we knew it Jasper had rushed between the swans and Jude and was obviously protecting him. The swans were rearing up and hissing madly.

"Jasper is usually quite timid and hardly ever makes a noise but he was barking at the swans and was down on his haunches making the swans back off. He was amazing and it showed us how he had bonded with us as a family.

"It really gives us confidence that if anyone was to ever threaten any of us or try to break into our house he would protect us."

Jasper was adopted by Mr and Mrs Bolton and their children Phoenix, 15, Zak, 12, Trixie, eight and Jude after he was found abandoned in Spain.

They originally fostered the dog from Trowbridge charity Leash Of Life that was set up in 2014 to help rescue dogs from Romania but now also works in Spain.

Mrs Bolton said: "We took Jasper on about six months ago. We think he is a cross between a Beagle and a Jack Russell and about two years old. He has been wonderful from the start but very timid.

"He is very gentle with the children and Jude adores him. This is the first time we have ever seen a different side to him and it was obviously because he thought Jude was in danger."

Mrs Bolton, who home schools her children, said they had not been put off walking by the Caen Hill flight of locks in Devizes.

She said: "It is a lovely spot and now we actually feel more confident because we know Jasper will protect us."