Swan rescue charity to close after 50 years

An animal rescue charity has announced its closure after nearly half a century with its founder set to retire.

Wychbold Swan Rescue, near Droitwich, Worcestershire, was set up by Jan Harrigan in the mid-1970s after she found a swan with a broken wing and nursed it back to health.

Since then, Mrs Harrigan and a team of volunteers have treated thousands of sick and injured swans, as well as geese and ducks.

Now in her 80s, she said she had decided to wind up the charity and retire.

In 2004, Mrs Harrigan was made an MBE for services to the protection of swans and other river birds.

John Stewart and his wife Phyl have been volunteering at Wychbold Swan Rescue for 23 years.

He says they became involved "by accident rather than design".

"You see one in trouble and then what can you do? I think we can look back with pride at what we've done," he said.

Mr Stewart added that over the years he had personally taken in nearly 3,000 birds in need of aid after they suffered injuries in cases such as dog attacks, being hit by cars or injured by other swans.

"We've had cases where a swan has put its neck down in the water for some food and come up with a beer can on the end of its beak," he said.

"We’ve had the horrors of swans being shot, and I never understand why people should do that.

"So I think we can look back with pride at what we have done."