SWANS sporting green feathers have appeared in Worcester this week, sparking fears of pollution or vandalism.

But it has now been revealed that the green colouring is actually a harmless dye used at the Swan Rescue Centre, in Wychbold, near Droitwich, to identify birds that have received treatment.

"It's not a problem to the swans, but lots of people are noticing and worrying about it," said Worcester swan lover Edward Bird, who monitors the birds as part of the Worcestershire Swan Study.

"The birds have been checked out by volunteers from Bishops Wood Rescue Centre."

"The colour will fade and in the meantime they are behaving normally and will not be attacked by the other swans," he said.

The Swan Rescue Centre takes in about 600 swans a year from Worcestershire and the Midlands. Most are suffering from lead poisoning while others have swallowed hooks or become tangled in fishing lines.

"When you are faced with a pen full of 30 different faces, you have to mark them as you deal with them," said swan rescue worker Jan Harrigan.

"They get a little blob of green when I have treated them and when they get in the water it spreads over the feathers and disappears quite quickly," she said.