Five cygnets hatch from killed swans' eggs

Cuan Wildlife Rescue said six eggs hatched and five cygnets survived

Eggs left abandoned after two nesting swans died by a canal towpath in Newport have been hatching at a wildlife rescue centre.

The two swans died after an attack by another animal, police and a local councillor have said.

The birds were found dead on the towpath at Victoria Park, between 30 April and 1 May.

Becky Lewis, assistant hospital manager at Cuan Wildlife, said 11 eggs were found, six cygnets had hatched, and of those five survived. The other five eggs had not been viable, she said.

"We managed to get the eggs and get them in to incubate them," Ms Lewis said.

She said the cygnets were now a week old and would remain at the rescue centre, based in Much Wenlock, for a "good few months".

She said they needed to be adult-sized when they were released but would still have their grey feathers.

"We normally release them at the end of the summer, late September," she said.

The five cygnets were all doing well, she added, and were eating and drinking "exactly as we hoped".