THE DEDICATED manager of a charity that rescues injured swans spoke about how the spate of recent attacks on the animals have left her 'sickened.'

Wendy Hermon from Swan Support, spoke to The Chronicle about a worrying number of instances during lockdown of swans in different areas being shot.

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She said: "It can't be one person - it has happened in Newbury, Thatcham, Andover, Hampshire and all over.

"It has to be different people."

Wendy said that although such incidents have happened before, they have never happened so regularly and close together.

She said how the charity relies heavily on the public for both information and donations.

"With the nesting swan that had been shot in the head in Thatcham, we only found out about it because a couple that are vulnerable and can't go anywhere had been watching them and feeding them for weeks.

"We get calls from the public, the police, the RSPCA."

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Speaking about the impact lockdown was having on the charity, Wendy said: "We go on no matter what is happening, but a lot of our fundraisers and events have obviously had to be cancelled.

"This means we're still out there trying to help as many swans as we can but we aren't getting the donations in at the moment."

When asked why she thinks there has been a sudden increase in attacks on swans, she said: "I really have no idea why people would do this, all I can think right now is people may be bored because of lockdown? "In my head there would be no reason for it but I can't think why there would be an increase at the moment.

"These swans are sitting targets - they all seem to be nesting swans as well.

"It makes me sick that this is happening."

Highlighting the incredible work of the charity, Swan Support published a video today that was shared far and wide, including by Harry Potter author JK Rowling.

The footage shows the moment the swan from Thatcham, which almost died, had been reunited with her mate, who was waiting for her by the riverbed.

After being treated by vets, the swan glided happily back to her family.

To donate to swan support visit the website.