A swan was killed after being shot in the head

The bodies of the birds were found near Newport on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

The swan's death is a double blow to the area as the mother of the 10-month-old bird was hit twice in the head in an earlier shooting.

She is now being cared for at a sanctuary in Evesham, Worcestershire.

It is the second attack on the birds on the same stretch of canal in recent weeks and a �500 reward has been offered for information by Swan Rescue South Wales.

Mal Salter, who is a volunteer with the rescue group described the scene as "carnage".

"It was absolutely awful - it was disgusting," he said.

"There were 15 mallards and moorhens and a baby swan.

It was barbaric, and very upsetting especially seeing the young swan dead Mal Salter, Swan Rescue South Wales

"It is just complete thuggery to shoot and kill defenceless animals like this," he said.

Mr Salter was called to remove the bodies of the birds from the area on 22 February.

"Everybody was shocked by what they saw," he said.

"It was barbaric, and very upsetting especially seeing the young swan dead.

"She had been shot in the head. She was a mute swan and it is a very serious offence to kill a swan because they are the Queen's birds."

Mr Salter said that the deaths of the ducks had come at a particularly bad time.

"The ducks are starting to nest now and this will have a very bad effect on the population of ducks in that stretch."

'Horrendous'

Members of the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal Trust have said they are dismayed by the killings.

"We have been working hard to get the wildlife back to the canal and we have got otters right down to Newport now," said Phil Hughes.

"It is absolutely horrendous to hear about this shooting," he added.

Gwent Police have begun an investigation.

PC Eddie Evans said: "We consider this a particularly despicable incident against harmless wildlife.