SWAN lovers are calling on Buckingham Palace to stump up cash to help find the killers of a much-loved swan.

Gerard Downs was sickened when he heard about the brutal thugs who had caused the death of Psycho, one of the swans at Longton Brickcroft.

Psycho died two weeks after the attack, during which its wings were knotted together and its flight feathers ripped out.

Longton residents have put up a £750 reward for information leading to the arrest of the thugs who attacked Psycho and its mate.

But Mr Downs believes Buckingham Palace should stump up more cash because swans are officially the 'Queen's birds', and killing them is a capital offence. He said: "It is horrific and something should be done about it. The money raised is excellent but more could be done.

"If Buckingham Palace helped, I'm sure people would be more aware of what has happened. These people can't be allowed to do it again."

Rita Sharples, who discovered the swans after the attack, said: "It has sickened us all. Psycho was such a beautiful swan, full of character.

"We were so pleased when we heard he was going to survive. Now, he is dead and I don't think the Brickcroft will be the same again."

Now the hunt is on for the people responsible for Psycho's death.

Rita added: "Someone must know what happened. It is a testimony to what people thought of him that they have put up a reward."

Tragically, it was the birds' tame nature, brought on by being fed by Brickcroft visitors, which made them such easy targets. Psycho had previously been blinded in one eye with sticks and stones. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said a formal approach would need to be made.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.