Swans suffering as River Crouch’s bank is like ‘broken glass’

Swans are suffering from infections caused by concrete riverbanks that feel like “broken glass”, according to a wildlife hospital.

Things have got worse at the River Crouch in Hullbridge in recent months, according to South Essex Wildlife Hospital, which has seen “six or seven” cases of bumblefoot.

The bacterial infection breaks the skin on the bottom of birds’ feet via bits of grit, causing them to become very inflamed.

Sue Schwar, the hospital’s founder, said: “Unfortunately, water birds have very soft feet. They’re not really designed to be kept on concrete… it’s like us walking over broken glass. It’s really painful for them.”