Young swans injured in suspected catapult attack

News imageSouth Yorkshire Police Five fluffy cygnets swim together in a narrow canal beside stone and grassy banks, with a wooden lock gate and green fields in the background.South Yorkshire Police
Two of the five cygnets involved in the incident are in a serious condition, police said

Five young swans have been left injured after reportedly being shot at by someone using a catapult and ball bearing.

The attack on the cygnets was believed to have happened between 19:00 BST on Saturday and 14:00 on Sunday on the Chesterfield Canal, around Browns Lock, in Rotherham, according to South Yorkshire Police.

They were taken to a rescue centre for treatment, where two remained in a serious condition and three others were recovering well, a force spokesperson said.

Officers urged anyone with information about what happened, or who had seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time, to get in touch.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North