'Shock and sadness' after swan shot dead with air rifle as she lay on eggs

Two swans were shot along Chesterfield Canal with an air rifle on Friday (May 1) with one of the birds being killed and the other being wounded.

The birds were discovered by a woman walking along the the canal at 8:20 on Friday morning.

Staff at Chesterfield Canal Trust have expressed their shock andsadness at the incident, releasing this statement:

Many people have been left so upset by the attack that a £1,000 rewardhas been put forward to track down the perpetrator.

The adult swans have both featured on BBC show Countryfile.