OVERHEAD cables above a picturesque pond are "a death trap" to wild swans, a Westhoughton animal lover claims.

Two swans were recently electrocuted after flying into the wires above the pond at Lanns Farm, off Hindley Road, Westhoughton.

Mrs Dorothy Hamer is now asking Norweb to fix high visibility fluorescent balls to the wires to make them more noticeable to swans on the wing.

The latest swan to die collided with the wires on Christmas Day. The male swan was killed as it flew towards the pond with a female and cygnet.

It followed a similar accident in October when another male swan died, leaving a female without her mate.

Mute swans normally pair for life.

Mrs Hamer said: "I am really concerned about the situation there. Detection balls are needed on the wires so that the swans are able to avoid them."

She has asked Norweb to consider making the wires more visible and her request has still to be considered by the company.

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