The Examiner has been contacted by a worried resident who says swans in the lake in Bradley Stoke south have vanished.

Correspondent Gary says he went on holiday at the start of August but to his horror returned to find one of the two swans there dead on the lake bank.

Also missing were two of the signets which had been living on the lake in the Three Brooks nature reserve.

Two white ducks, which have “lived there for years” were also gone.

UPDATE: The Examiner has learned the swan in question has been taken away for testing by Defra, as is usual when dead wildfowl is found. In the meantime, if residents do find dead birds they are asked to contact the council Streetcare hotline on 01454 868000.

More updates will follow when we know more. 

Gary added: “What was just as shocking was there now only remains about a quarter of the ducks and not only that they seem to be afraid to go onto the pond. They’re now living on the river above the pond.

“What also is a mystery is the that fact these ducks who were almost eating out of my hand a couple of weeks ago and are now too terrified to come to me when I throw some food down for them.”

It does sound as if something has happened here - the Examiner would be very interested to hear from anyone who can throw light on this mystery.

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