LUCKY Hollow did not prove so fortunate a home for a pair of mute swans.

The fully grown pen and cob were found shot dead and floating in the middle of the pond there at Old Hall Farm, Atherton.

And their death has caused uproar in the Old Hall Mill Lane community.

Farmer, Peter Winder (pictured), who discovered the tragedy said: "I find it very disturbing. The birds have been flying around for the past few days and have been coming here for some years. Now some heartless scum for their evil fun have shot them dead.

"Because they are dead the RSPCA can do nothing, and it's left to me with the thankless task of pulling them from the water.

"I am sick at the prospect and the thought of the heartlessness in our cruel and unfeeling society."

A nearby resident said: "This was mindless. Whoever did this must be sick. The swans were here throughout all the bad weather and then this happens. It's terrible.

Another said: "How low and mean of these half-wits to commit this outrage and shoot these nearly tame birds who were trusting enough to come close to humans."

A Wigan Council spokesman said the swans bodies were removed by their Pennington Park Rangers.

"A lot of people are upset and angry about this dispicable act. The swans give a lot of pleasure to local people."

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