SWAN Rescue volunteers say the last year was the worst on record for attacks on swans in Gwent.

No-one has been convicted or even arrested yet for a series of sickening attacks on swans across the area in the last 12 months, the most recent of which caused outrage in Newport last week.

So far Gwent animal lovers have pledged more than £1,500 as a reward to help catch the yobs who attacked two swans at Tredegar House last Wednesday.

The breeding pair were repeatedly hit by sticks and rocks, and the female's injuries were so bad she had to be put down.

The male is recovering at a specialist centre in Shepperton, near London. Peter Martin, of Swan Rescue, said: "I don't usually talk in terms of hyperbole but in our experience this has been the worst-ever year for attacks on swans.

"We have never known anything like it. "The worst thing is no-one has been convicted."

Last April a swan was found stoned to death on a canal in Cwmbran. Then five swans died after being shot in the head with an air rifle in the Marshfield area near Newport in October.

Two weeks ago a dog savaged a male swan at Cwmbran's boating lake. The swan died two days later.

Then last week a male swan was shot at Magor marsh by yobs with an air rifle, but was not seriously injured.

Mr Martin said: "Despite the publicity in the Argus, the outrage it has caused and the rewards offered, no-one has been convicted for any of these incidents."

The reward for the latest attack now stands at £1,550. As we reported, Robert Henderson, from Malpas, pledged £100, and an anonymous woman pledged £200.

Yesterday two more women contacted the Argus and offered £100 each. Swan rescue are putting up a £500 reward, and said they had received further offers of £550, including £400 from a wellwisher who wanted to remain anonymous.

Mr Martin said the male swan is still "extremely traumatised" but is recovering with other injured swans at the centre in Shepperton. Anyone with information about last Wednesday's attack at Tredegar House can call the police on 01633 838111, the RSPCA on 08705 555999 or Swan Rescue on 07802 472788.