SWANS have been shot and killed on Slough canal.

A family of swans were shot on the canal next to Middle Green Road, Langley, on Tuesday morning.

A male swan was shot in the eye and despite treatment, died a day later. A female swan was shot in the back of the neck, and was recovered for treatment by Swan Lifeline.

Their cygnet, that had almost entered adulthood, was killed. A fourth swan, a visiting young male, was also shot and killed.

Diane Richards, of the Friends of Slough Canal, said: “People I’ve spoken to have been in tears about this.” You get to know your local swans and their personalities.

“The swans had 8 eggs, and only one cygnet survived. We were very confident this one would make it to adulthood.”

Wendy Herman, Operations Director of Swan Support, recovered the visiting male from the banks of the canal. He had been shot through the top of the neck with an air rifle.

She said: “The swans were seen alive and well by a local resident at 6 in the morning, and we were called out at around noon, so the attack must have happened in the mid-morning. Someone must have seen something suspicious, its hard to believe there was nobody around.

“We’d like to ask anybody with any information to contact the police immediately. These people are shooting in a built-up area, its dangerous. People are about.”

Anyone with any information regarding these crimes should call the police on 101, quoting reference number 43170257314, and state that you wish to report a wildlife crime.