SICK youths have been slammed for their 'useless lives' after shooting dead a swan on the banks of the River Severn in Worcester.

The three-year-old male swan was shot in the head with an air rifle on the river near the Diglis lock by the group of teenagers some time between 6pm and 6.30pm on Friday.

Lockkeeper Graham Childe said he saw the four boys walking along the Diglis towpath by Diglis Dock Road with the air rifle.

"I heard the click of an air rifle and then when I saw them walking past, they shoved it into a holdall and then I saw the bird on the river," he said.

"I was horrified to see youths like that doing what they're doing - they can't do anything sensible with their useless lives so they go out to do damage like this."

Mr Childe retrieved the dead bird from the river and contacted both the police and Bishops Wood Swan Rescue Centre, near Stourport-on-Severn.

Centre volunteer Edward Bird also slammed the youths' actions, describing how it was the fourth such incident to happen in Worcester in about three years.

"I'm absolutely disgusted really - it's a totally pointless exercise. A couple of seconds have taken away the life of a lovely bird," he said.

Mr Bird said he believed the swan had been in the area for some time and added that volunteers would be monitoring the area for further incidents.

The youths were seen heading towards Wyld's Lane and are described as all in their teens, with one wearing a blue T-shirt, one a blue and white T-shirt and another a black T-shirt with a white stripe across the shoulders.

The description of the fourth youth is unknown.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 08547 444888 or Crimestoppers, 0800 555111.