New family of swans like 'a revival' after massacre

Swans have returned to one of the Cheddar Valley locations wherea massacre of the protected birds took place earlier this year.

The new family, consisting of an adult male, or cob, and female(pen) with seven cygnets, was spotted in the Blackford area by RobinBurnell, who lives in West Stoughton.

Mr Burnell said: "I was so surprised and happy to see the newfamily. It is like a revival, a recovery.

"And it is the first time I have seen seven cygnets - I've oftenseen fours, fives and sixes, but never as many as seven."

More than 40 mute swans were shot on the Somerset Levels, nearWedmore, Blackford and Godney, in February and, in spite of …