Oil spill leads to dramatic rescue of swans

One of the swans covered in oil

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Two swans have been rescued from the River Roch after being found covered in oil by passers by – an oil covered heron is still missing.

Oil was spotted on Sudden Brook, a tributary of the River Roch by people passing by on grass land off Roch Valley Way over the weekend.

One swan was caught on Saturday (27 November 2010) and on Sunday (28 November 2010) another swan was dramatically rescued by a member of the public armed with a blanket.

The oil covered swans were completely black from the oil. It is thought that they will make a full recovery.

Residents are now concerned for other wildlife in the area.

A member of the public who did not what to be named, said: “I only saw the second swan but I felt so sorry for it. It was sat on the opposite side of the river just pruning itself for about two hours.

“When my neighbour went in the river to get it, it didn’t put up much of a struggle. He threw some bread for it and the swan couldn’t eat it fast enough, as the swan was eating my neighbour threw a blanket over it and carried it back across the river it was very distressed.

“I’m worried about the rest of the wildlife that’s still down there; I’m hoping the RSPCA are going to look into it.

“Which I hope they do because there are lots of ducks, herons and other wildlife in there which are going to need their help.

“You only have to walk into the field next to the river and you can smell the oil.”

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "The RSPCA visited the River Roch on Saturday (27 November) and again on Sunday (28 November) after a number of calls about a pair of swans and a heron that were covered in oil.

"One of the swans was caught on Saturday and the other on Sunday and both have been taken to our specialist wildlife centre RSPCA Stapeley Grange in Cheshire to be cleaned up.

"They were badly oiled but it's hoped they'll make a full recovery and will be able to be released in due course.

"The heron hasn't been found."

Tony Evason, from the Environment Agency, said: "We continue to monitor the situation and are currently working to gather evidence and assess the environmental impact following the spillage. Once our investigation is complete we will decide what, if any, enforcement action to take."