Cruelty: The adult swans and their adorable six cygnets, pictured two days before their death, were shot dead in the neck and chestPolice are hunting a 'sick' gunman who shot dead a family of eight swans in a horrific attack at a lakeside beauty spot.
The family of two adult swans and six two-week-old cygnets were shot in the chest and neck by a yob who picked the birds off with an air rifle.
They were found floating in a lake at the picturesque Ford Green Nature Reserve in Smallthorne, Staffs.
Sick: An x-ray shows a pellet found inside the body of a swan gunned down by a yob who police have yet to findPolice and RSPCA were called and were forced to call in the fire service to remove the swans from the lake, as horrified onlookers watched in tears.
A reward of £350 has now been put up for anyone who can help find the killer of the swans, who were discovered with air rifle pellets in their bodies.
They were taken to an RSPCA centre where X-rays revealed numerous air rifle pellets had been blasted in the necks and chests of the swans.
RSPCA Inspector John Groarke attended the scene and said he was horrified at the 'appalling' attacks.
He said: 'We are horrified that anyone could use an air gun and shoot an entire family of swans.
Shocking: Another x-ray shows two more air rifle pellets lodged in the body of a swanPaul Reed, chairman of Smallthorne Residents' Association said the killings were 'atrocious' and branded the criminals 'sick'.
He wants CCTV installed on the site and is offering a reward of £250 on behalf of the residents' association to anyone with information leading to the capture of the criminals.
'A patrol attended and the RSPCA was called. The swans were retrieved and then taken to an RSPCA centre to establish the cause of death.'
Atrocious: The swan family were taken out by a sniper at the picturesque Ford Green nature Reserve in Staffordshiresource: dailymail
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