A CRUEL thug shot dead a family of swans in Aveley.

The RSPCA was alerted to the fate of the birds by a passing motorist on the M25 who saw a swan trapped in barbed wire near floodwater spilling from the River Mardyke around 4pm on Monday.

The man said there was one swan which looked as though it was already dead, one struggling in the water, and two young cygnets, which were still alive.

RSPCA inspector Matt Gough raced to the scene but was shocked to discover the whole family was dead when he arrived.

When he pulled in the body of the male swan, he discovered the bird had been shot with an air rifle.

Mr Gough said: “It immediately seemed unusual that all of the swans had died from being trapped especially as the body of the male bird seemed to be floating free in the water.

“I used my equipment to retrieve the body of the male and saw that he was not tangled at all and had a small hole in the side of his head with blood trickling down his face.

“It appeared he had been shot with an air rifle.

“I was unable to retrieve the bodies of the female or the cygnets as they were too far out in the water for me to reach, but upon looking at the female through binoculars I could again see a trickle of blood coming from the side of her head.

“It seems probable that all four birds were killed in the same way as I can see no other reason for them to have died at that time.”

Mr Gough added: “An act as senseless, destructive and cruel as this leaves me deeply saddened.”

The RSPCA discovered from speaking to residents near the scene that the swans were a familiar sight in the area, and returned year after year to hatch and raise their brood.

Swans are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and legally belong to the Queen.

If any one has any information about who may have committed this crime, they can call the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 123 8018.