A DOG walker from Chelmsford has spoke of her anger after finding a dead swan on the river bank.

The mother-of-two, who did not wish to be named, was walking her dog by the River Chelmer near the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre when she spotted what she described as a sad sight.

She said that she regularly walks her dog along the banks but has never seen anything like it.

She added: “I noticed a large white shape by the waterside and I went over to investigate, “When I saw the swan I found it very distressing, there were other walkers that were walking past at the time and I flagged some down to help but I didn’t have any luck.

“It looked to me as if there was an empty nest and that eggs had been taken which is terrible if that is the case.”

She said that she thought it had been attached as she could see wounds on the birds body.

The 55-year-old shop worker added: “I have no idea what killed the swan but it is a real shame and I think we need to protect birds and wildlife like swans more.”

She said that she had tried to report it to the authorities but she had no luck.