Cambridge River Cam cygnet 'poisoning' death probed

The cygnets were found on a stretch of the River Cam in Grantchester

Three cygnets found dead in a Cambridgeshire river may have been poisoned, the RSPCA has said.

The birds, three of four belonging to a "well-loved" pair of swans, were found floating in the River Cam in the Mill Way area of Grantchester on Tuesday.

The five-month-old cygnets showed "no obvious sign of injury or illness".

RSPCA inspector Jayne Bashford said: "A lot of grain was found nearby, so there is a possibility they may have been poisoned in some way."

She added: "Unfortunately we do not know what caused these deaths.

"It is unusual, and very sad, that all three died at once like this.

"This pair of swans have lived on this stretch of river for years and are well-known and well-loved in the area and now they only have one youngster left."

The RSPCA was not able to be certain whether the grain found nearby had anything to do with the deaths, but has appealed for information.