THE deaths of three swans on Mistley’s waterfront has sparked an investigation by a Government body.

The swans were spotted in The Walls, Mistley, by passing by residents who eventually contacted animal welfare groups in the area as well as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Gill Lewis runs Brantham-based WeCare Wildlife Rescue Centre and feeds the swans every winter.

She is encouraging residents to be on the look out for signs of unwell birds after the swans were found.

Gill said: “When I was I was told about it on Saturday I went down to have a look and found the first swan washed up.

“It was very decomposed and could’ve been washed up on the tide and the area it was spotted is quite a frequented area.

“When we got the report of the first swan, one of my volunteers went down to have a look and there weren’t any other sick swans.

“Then the other two swans appeared the next morning.”

Gill and her team have reported the cases to Defra as three or more swans have to be reported so they can be collected and disposed of safely.

She is hopeful the cause of death is not bird flu as it could easily spread across to the rest of the more than 60 swans in the area.

Gill added: “It’s in the incubation stage so everything is just speculation at the moment.

“I’m wondering if it was just weaker swans dying because of the cold weather. Everywhere was frozen a few days ago and the swans were struggling to get fresh water.

“I checked on Monday morning and they were fine, usually if its avian flu the birds would be uninterested in carers but they all came up to me wanting food so that’s positive”

An Animal and Plant Health Agency spokesperson said: “We are aware of a number of wild birds deaths in the Essex area and we are investigating these deaths as part of our wild bird surveillance programme.

“The risk to the general public from avian influenza is very low.

However members of the public should not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds.”