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FURIOUS Trevor Weeks, county rescue coordinator for the East Sussex Wildlife Trust, demanded action.

He said: "This is an absolute disgrace and we are livid to say the least. How the hell can this have happened?

"We are pursuing the police to prosecute the dog owner under section two of the 1871 dog act, which compels owners to keep their dogs under control.

"We don't want to see the dog put down, we just want people to start taking responsibility for their pets.

"With all the efforts we've made to protect these swans over the last year we feel totally demoralised."

This week the male and cygnet were being monitored to make sure they were surviving properly.

Mr Weeks added: "The male has had a tendency to fly away for a few days leaving the female to look after the cygnet. We hope now the mum has gone he will start taking his parental responsibilities a bit more seriously but we will need the public to keep and eye and alert us if he does fly off."

Mr Weeks can be contacted on 07815 078234.