by Thom Morris

tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

Thugs with catapults have been blamed for wiping out a herd of cygnets on an Ashford lake.

Singleton Lake bailiff, Christopher Parker, says on Saturday there was one cygnet left on the lake - 30 minutes after a youth was spotted sporting a catapult, the creature was found dead on the cycle path.

Mr Parker said: "The angler who found it kindly moved it into the long grass and when I went down the next morning it had gone, so I assume a fox must have found it.

"But I don't mind if a fox has done it - that's nature.

"But when there's the possibility that it's some evil little swine using a catapult on these poor things it leaves me really hacked off."

The seven cygnets were born in April and since then their numbers have dwindled.

The final youngster was about the size of a goose when it died, suggesting it was unlikely to have been eaten by a pike or by a fox.

Mr Parker added: "The birds are extremely tame down there. You only have to throw a few pieces of bread into the water, as people do, and they come right up to you. What kind of a shot is that with someone with a catapult, you're hardly likely to miss.

"People love watching them grow up from babies and watching them learn to fly and ultimately leaving the lake, they're beautiful birds.

"To think these poor defenceless creatures have been deprived of their lives by some little yob, well, it really bugs me."

RSPCA spokesman Klare Kennett said the charity was taking the offence extremely seriously.

She said: "We are keen to hear from anyone with any information on this youth who may have shot the cygnet with a catapult.

"This was an extremely cruel and mindless act and was an offence and whoever is responsible could face prosecution."

Anyone with any information can call the RSPCA confidentially on 0300 1234999.