The mystery death of one of a pair of adult swans has upset residents on a Wellington housing estate.

The swans had nested on ponds on the Longforth farm estate for the past three years, and raised three cygnets this summer.

But now one of them has been found dead on a bank beside the ponds with half of its body missing.

The killing has been reported for investigation by the police, the RSPCA and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Robin Fanning of Prices Avenue has watched the birds with his partner and children since they took up residence. He said the death was not thought to be a case of avian flu.

Mr Fanning said residents on the estate initially thought that a human or an out-of-control dog had carried out the attack.

However, on closer inspection, he believes the culprit was more likely to be a fox.

Mr Fanning said: “I saw the carcass and it looked like a wild animal had taken it. It was a real shame because we have witnessed them right from the start seeing the cygnets being born.

“We saw them flying the other day, so we were expecting them to disappear for the winter shortly. Seeing the lives of the swans has been a beautiful education for me and my children, and they have almost become our pets,” he said.

“I know a lot of people on the estate feel the same,” he added.

Swans in the UK are owned by the Crown and it is illegal to kill them or cause distress or injury.