A SWAN has been killed in a savage attack by a dog at a Widnes beauty spot.

Volunteer water bailiff Les Stewart found the mutilated body of the bird beside the locks at Spike Island at around 6.30am on Wednesday, May 8 whilst walking his dog.

It is the latest in a spate of attacks on swans at the Mersey Road marina.

Les, aged 60, from West Bank, said: “Its neck had been ripped apart and there were great big lumps of feather and flesh.

“We have found five dead swans in the last couple of months.

“It sickens me. They have definitely been been attacked by dogs as nothing had fed on it.”

Les, who gives up his time as a children’s angling coach, is urging animal lovers to keep their dogs on leads.

He found a swan with a damaged wing three weeks ago and the RSPCA rescued it.

He said: “I want people to keep control of their dogs. This is my back garden. I fish down there and do a lot of litter picking.

“This is a brilliant place to live. There’s a lovely community spirit. I love so much nature on our doorstep. The amount of flora and fauna is unbelievable.”

A mum-of-three, aged 36, who used to live in West Bank, said: “This was a really horrific attack. it would have been upsetting if my children had seen it.” A SWAN has been killed in a savage attack by a dog at a Widnes beauty spot.

Volunteer water bailiff Les Stewart found the mutilated body of the bird beside the locks at Spike Island at around 6.30am on Wednesday, May 8 whilst walking his dog.

It is the latest in a spate of attacks on swans at the Mersey Road marina.

Les, aged 60, from West Bank, said: “Its neck had been ripped apart and there were great big lumps of feather and flesh.

“We have found five dead swans in the last couple of months.

“It sickens me. They have definitely been been attacked by dogs as nothing had fed on it.”

Les, who gives up his time as a children’s angling coach, is urging animal lovers to keep their dogs on leads.

He found a swan with a damaged wing three weeks ago and the RSPCA rescued it.

He said: “I want people to keep control of their dogs. This is my back garden. I fish down there and do a lot of litter picking.

“This is a brilliant place to live. There’s a lovely community spirit. I love so much nature on our doorstep. The amount of flora and fauna is unbelievable.”

A mum-of-three, aged 36, who used to live in West Bank, said: “This was a really horrific attack. it would have been upsetting if my children had seen it.”

A spokesman for Halton Council's open spaces services said: "The Council is aware of these incidents and we are looking at introducing ‘dogs on lead' zones at Spike Island.

"We are at an early stage in that process and we will consult with the public in due course.

"The canal area where the swans congregate are included in the area that would become ‘dogs on leads’."