Swan pair recovering after Radcliffe-on-Trent oil spill ordeal

A parish councillor has said she is “over the moon” after swans were rescued from a pond in Nottinghamshire that was contaminated in an oil spill.

The Environment Agency (EA) was contacted after people spotted oil in a pond close to the River Trent in Radcliffe-on-Trent on Saturday.

Rescuers were able to save some birds but swans that had been spotted covered in a black substance had gone by the time they got there.

But Rushcliffe parish councillor Anne McLeod said two swans had now been tracked down and given help.

“We’ve managed to catch both swans and they’re on the way to be cared for and hopefully have some treatment to remove any oil from inside their bodies,” she said.

“We’re absolutely over the moon and all I can say is a massive, massive thank you to everybody involved. It’s been a team effort and we’ve had the best result of all.”

The EA previously said officers believed approximately 10 litres of oil spilled from a container deposited in the pond.

A spokesperson said: “A local wildlife group has been rescuing birds impacted by the spill, and we are making contact with the owner of the pond.

“A thin sheen of oil remains on the pond, however, we do not believe booms or pads would be effective at this time, and we do not anticipate further impacts to the environment or to other watercourses.”

Linjoy Wildlife Sanctuary and Rescue, which is caring for the swans, said they were eating and appeared to be in reasonable health.

Once the oil has been removed from the birds’ feathers, they are expected to be released back into the wild.