THE future is looking brighter for Middlewich’s swans after campaigners scooped £3,000 for a protective fence on Booth Lane.

Over the last 12 months, the Swan Support Group has seen four swans killed due to road accidents.

But, last Wednesday, the group secured funds from Cheshire County Council and British Waterways for a permanent fence along a stretch of the Trent and Mersey Canal to prevent this from happening.

Swan Support Group member Lena Porter said: “It shows that if you don’t give up, something can happen. Everything should fall into place and prevent any accidents.”

The news was particularly timely as on the same day a diesel splash affected 19 swans. They were inspected by the RSPCA on Monday.

But work cannot begin immediately as British Waterways, that owns about 450m of the land where the fence will be laid, wants to see a long term plan for maintenance and legal cover.

The Swan Support Group has contacted the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers for assistance and hopes work can commence in around two weeks.