An animal lover is annoyed a council has ruled out building a platform in a lake to help swans at risk of attack.

Maldon District Council said it would consider Pat Thompson’s request after seven cygnets were killed and their mother needed her wing amputated following a fox attack.

But in the last week, a spokesman said: “Officers have looked at the suggested floating island but fear that this will not prevent such an attack occurring again so no action is proposed at this time."

Mrs Thompson, of King Street, Maldon, received a copy of an email from a council officer which said swans will nest in the reeds and find it impossible to get onto the platform, which would cost quite a bit of money and could become a target for vandals, and foxes can swim.