A VOLUNTEER has spoken of her heartbreak after reports that a baby swan was ‘thoughtlessly mowed down’ by a driver.

Caroline Sim, a bird rescue volunteer, was called to Canal Head in Ulverston on Sunday morning after a mute cygnet had reportedly been killed by a motorist.

Ms Sim arrived at the scene where she discovered the swan family gathered around the dead body, describing it as ‘horrendous’.

She said: “When I turned up on the scene, the family were gathered on the grass bank at Canal Head.

“One of the cygnets was among them lying there dead.

“There were adult and baby feathers everywhere.”

Ms Sim said the event was ‘very distressing’ for the swan family which witnessed the collision.

She said: “You could immediately tell how affected they were by this.

“The male made a high pitched scream that I had never heard before.

“There were bloody feathers everywhere.

“The little cygnets were standing next to their dead sibling - it was horrendous.”

After leading the family away from the scene, Ms Sim cordoned off the area.

“I took the cygnet’s body away as it so distressing for the family and led them into the water,” she said.

“I went and bought a fence and cordoned off that area so the swans can’t come onto the road again.

“Now they only have access to another bank which is perfectly safe and the cars can’t reach it.”

A witness to the scene said that he saw a driver ‘deliberately’ run over the swan.

Ms Sim said: “It’s a blessing that the parents weren’t killed because all the cygnets would’ve probably died.

“Luckily, the cygnet was killed outright and wasn’t suffering.

“Imagine if it had several broken bones and was lying there in pain. I’m so glad it died outright.”

Elisabeth Ashleigh, of Bardsea Bird Sanctuary, said: “If this is true, it’s horrendous. No one should be doing this to wildlife.

“They take it out on these poor innocent swans. This is a defenceless creature.

“The parents would’ve been as deeply traumatised as any human parent who had lost a child would be.They pine when their family pass away, and can actually die themselves of a broken heart.

“Although birds are used to having their young taken away and bred, they do pine for their partner and children. I’m relieved it wasn’t an adult and part of the pair because they pair for life. They would’ve been extremely traumatised by losing their baby. Swans are so important for making up the balance of nature and enriching the waters and soil.”

The mute swan species all belong to the Crown - taking or killing a swan could amount to theft and injuring them could amount to criminal damage, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.

Police have been informed.