Huntingdonshire: Dead Birds On River

26 September 2013, 09:43

Cambridgeshire Police are investigating after around 20 dead swans and ducks were found on a stretch of river in Huntingdonshire.

In the past fortnight, the bodies of 13 swans and seven ducks have been found in the water on the Great Ouse.

It is understood there were no visible signs of injury and post-mortem examinations carried out on the birds have so far proved inconclusive. 

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman said officers are keeping an open mind but the most likely explanations are deliberate poisoning or some form of leak into the river.

The area, between Paper Mill, Little Paxton, and St Neots Marina, is semi-rural, with the banks of the river running alongside a golf course and residential streets. 

PC Alun Bradshaw said: "It is very unusual for such a large amount of birds to die in such a short space of time and we are keen to find out what caused the deaths.

I would urge anyone with any information to call police.'' 

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Bradshaw on 101.