A VOLUNTEER at an Ebbw Vale bird sanctuary had 17 birds seized from him by a council just two weeks after receiving an award from the same authority.

Malcolm Jones, 69, received a Citizens’ award in the Blaenau Gwent 2008 Environmental awards for his work at the sanctuary he owns.

But now the same council has seized the birds from the Festival Park bird sanctuary.

Mr Jones, a retired steelworker, rushed back from a fundraiser at a children's centre in Merthyr Tydfil last week when a volunteer rang and told him what was happening.

When he arrived, Blaenau Gwent council officials, the RSPCA and a vet were at the site.

When Mr Jones, who has run the sanctuary for 11 years, asked what was going on, he says he was told the council had received a complaint about birds being tied up.

Mr Jones' partner Patricia Webb-Gushlow, 65, said the seizure of the birds left Mr Jones "extremely upset," adding: "I think it was terrible the way the council dealt with it."

The sanctuary has more than 60 types of bird and Mr Jones and Mrs Webb-Gushlow spend a lot of time doing community work and fundraisers, displaying the birds at school, fetes and community events.

The birds were seized last Wednesday, and the couple said they have no idea what is happening next.

Two birds were put down, one female snowy owl which was nearly blind and another hawk blind in one eye, but Ms Webb-Gushlow claims both came to the sanctuary in that condition.

A Blaenau Gwent council spokeswoman said: "We are investigating complaints made under the Animal Welfare Act. Our enquiries are still going on and so we are unable to comment further for legal reasons.”