More swans rescued from oil spill trouble spot

From the second time in two weeks swans have been rescued from the same spot in the River Kennet

Swans have been rescued from the same spot in a Reading river for the second time in two weeks due to an oil spill.

Five swans were rescued and cleaned on Tuesday evening by Maidenhead-based charity Swan Support after they were alerted to the situation by the public.

A similar incident occurred in the River Kennet at the bottom of Cholmeley Road two weeks ago and in July 2024.

Thames Water said that the "oil-based substance" had entered the river "likely by a third party."

Wendy Hermon, operations manager for Swan Support, said: "It's unacceptable. These are living creatures. It's not just the river that's contaminated, the swans are affected as well.

"It's not a nice thing for them to be pulled out of the river, taken back, washed and I think something needs to be done.

"It's not just what you're seeing on their feathers, it's what they're ingesting. As they're drinking the water and eating they're actually swallowing the water as well and it's not just the swans, what about the fish in there as well?"

The location of the spill is popular with the swans as the public often feed them from the nearby path.

Thames Water said: "Our investigations suggest that an oil-based substance has entered the river via a roadside gulley, likely by a third party.

"We are continuing to investigate the source of this, and we are working closely with the Environment Agency to assess the environmental impact."

The Environment Agency has been contacted for comment.