WILDLIFE workers have rescued three swans found covered in oil on a Worcester waterway.

Nick and Sandy Lee, owners of Bishops Wood Swan Rescue Centre, were called to the Diglis Basin after the lock keeper spotted the distressed birds.

It is believed a boat owner had pumped the pollutants from their boat on purpose.

Mr Lee said: “They have pumped out the boat’s bilges into the river.

“The bilge is where the muck collects in the bottom of the boat; the oil and fuel.

“But it has been pumped out into the basin, which I think is illegal to do and it’s polluted the water.

“We had to rescue two swans on Wednesday night and one on Thursday.

“Fortunately this sort of thing doesn’t happen too regularly.

“If it was diesel it could have killed them, especially if they had drunk it, but luckily it was engine oil.”

The swans will now have to be kept at the centre, near Stourport-on-Severn, for the next few weeks.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We have also isolated the source and will be undertaking legal action.”