Cygnet crushed by cruel thugs in Shrewsbury has died

The callous teenagers brutally attacked the four-week-old baby swan and threw it over a fence.

Police are now hunting for the boys who, after attacking the baby swan, set fire to its nest at a beauty spot.

It is believed they are aged around 13.

The cygnet was found unable to walk or lift his head near a pool in Battlefield, Shrewsbury, by a man and his dog late on Thursday evening. Witnesses, who managed to save the bird, said he was"kicked like a football" during the attack.

They managed to extinguish the burning nest and rescue the cygnet but despite appearing to make a recovery, it died on Sunday night.

The fluffy bird was initially taken to Haygate Veterinary Clinic, in Wellington, and was then transferred to the Cuan Wildlife Centre, in Much Wenlock.

Fran Hill, hospital manager at Cuan House Wildlife Rescue, said: "The cygnet died in our arms on Sunday night.

"He wasn't standing up which was a concern but we were hopeful he would make a recovery.

"But it tends to go one of two ways for seriously injured wildlife. They can either come in to us in shock and then they just tend to pass away or they can seem to perk up for a short period of time and then they die. This is what seemed to happen in this case.

"It is barbaric and I am lost for words that someone can treat a helpless little animal in such a way. Although abuse to swans is quite common this is the first time we have had this sort of incident with a cygnet.

"The RSPCA and police are appealing for witnesses to the attack."