A SWAN was rescued after it was shot with an air rifle on a stretch of canal in the Bradford district.

A member of the public spotted the young bird in a lethargic condition near Brunthwaite Swing Bridge on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, close to Silsden, on Monday morning.

The cygnet, who was motionless on the far side of the canal, was initially out of reach of her rescuers.

But RSPCA inspector Adam Dickinson managed to hook the bird using his reach and rescue pole to bring her to safety on the towpath.

The juvenile swan was bleeding from a circular wound to the side of her head meaning it is likely that she was shot by an air rifle.

“It may have been a plastic pellet and while it was not showing up on the X-ray scan, you can see an 8mm hole on the side of the head close to her eye,” said the inspector.

“When I arrived the cygnet was on the opposite of the bank close to an overflow duct and she was proving very difficult to reach. She was obviously unwell and was struggling to raise her head.

“Fortunately, my reach and rescue pole is five metres long, which was long enough to get across and I managed to grab the bird.

"She was in a horrendous condition and she was still bleeding when I got her out of the water. It was really sad to see.”

Volunteers from the rescue took the injured cygnet for veterinary treatment at a specialist hospital at the Skylark Nature Reserve near Selby.

She is now on a course of antibiotics and her condition is improving.

Adam added: “We would like to hear from anyone who has seen or heard anything as there is no CCTV in the area and it is quite isolated.

"A farmer who came down to speak to the volunteers from the rescue said he has had three lambs shot this year in the area, so there does appear to be a problem with people targeting animals.”

It is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take wild birds except under a licence. The maximum penalty is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Anyone with any information is asked to ring the RSPCA on 300 123 8018.

The incident has also been reported to police, who can be contacted on 101, quoting incident number 13220519563.