WALKING home, I paused by The King's School boathouse steps to observe one of Worcestershire's gallant swan rescuers in action.

The chap from the Bishop's Wood Centre was holding a Muscovy duck. At his feet lay a pinioned swan, which I later learnt was suffering from lead poisoning.

The man's eyes were following the progress of another Muscovy, which he was obviously intent on capturing. Unable to see how he could detain this creature while his hands were full, I offered to hold duck number one while he pursued duck number two.

Nearly a quarter of an hour later, number two was still at liberty, despite the lure of pieces of bread, most of which seemed to end up in the paws of a pair of opportunist rats. I told the man that I would have to go home at some stage. Perhaps the hunt could be continued in the morning.

Apparently, people now dump unwanted ducks in the Severn. Some of these birds are the victims of callous owners, others are liberated in the mistaken belief that the birds will somehow survive on the river.

They won't - any more than you or I would thrive if turned loose on the Cairngorms in the middle of January. Sadly, duck-dumping is yet another manifestation of who-gives-a-hoot Britain.