The RSPCA have launched an investigation after a swan was strangled to death by a woman at a park in County Durham.

A passer-by called police and the animal welfare charity to say the wild bird was being attacked in Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street.

Officers from Durham Constabulary found the dead creature and later spoke to two women in connection with the incident.

All swans in England and Wales are regarded as being owned by the Queen under a royal prerogative dating back to the Middle Ages.

As “Seigneur of the Swans”, the Queen still maintains an officially-appointed Swan Keeper who carries out the annual “Swan Upping” ceremony to mark them as Crown property.

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Anyone harming a wild swan could be jailed for up to six months under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

A spokesman for the animal protection charity said the injury was consistent with strangulation.

“Police were initially called by a member of the public who saw a woman grab the swan, straddle the bird and wring its neck,” said RSPCA inspector Trevor Walker.

“Officers attended the scene where they found the adult swan dead – with a soft tissue injury consistent with being strangled – and spoke to two women in connection with the incident.

“The bird’s body was removed by council workers and we were contacted to investigate.”

Mr Walker said: “This sounds like an extremely upsetting incident and this attack has led to the unnecessary, tragic death of a beautiful bird

“I’d like to hear from anybody who was in the park at around 7pm on Thursday evening and who may have seen the incident or the women involved.”

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The RSPCA said anyone caught deliberately trying to injure, kill or take a wild bird without a licence, can face up to six months in prison if found guilty.