A SWAN that was shot at by youths earlier this month has made a speedy recovery and was released back into the river Avon this week.

The injured swan was spotted when a local woman with her family saw a group of youths aged between 15 and 18, armed with what is described, as two air rifles.

The woman who had parked her car on the rugby field on Monday, January 2 in Hampton heard gun shots.

The family fearing that their four-year-old son may get hit by the shots fired contacted the police immediately.

PC Dave Shortell from West Mercia police along with John Payne, swan rescue man, arrived at the river Avon in Evesham to find the bird had a pellet injury to its wing.

Speaking about the swan's progress yesterday, Mr Payne said: "The swan and his partner were released into the river Avon on Sunday from the Workman Gardens and are settling back into the wildlife comfortably.

"Both myself and the police are still very keen to catch the person responsible for this attack and would like to hear from anyone who has any information. If anyone does have any information they're more than welcome to contact me on 07973166196."