A PETITION calling for tighter regulations on owning an air rifles has achieved nearly 150,000 signatures.

Wendy Hermon, who has worked with swan rescue charities for 25 years, launched the petition after growing tired of the 'barbaric' treatment of animals.

Swan Support is responsible for rescuing and rehoming injured or endangered swans across Thames Valley, but relaxed gun laws have put the birds under threat.

The petition, addressed to Home Secretary Sajid Javid MP, is only 3,000 signatures away from reaching the target.

Ms Hermon said: "Even after all this time, I still find it deeply upsetting to find swans so cruelly and unnecessarily killed like this.

"Being shot by an air rifle is a particularly painful way for a swan to die; it can take days for a shot swan to die and they suffer an immense amount of pain. Sadly, we see it far too often."

She started the petition after five baby swans and their parents were found dead, wrapped in a plastic bag near the water.

It is an offence to carry an air weapon in a public place without reasonable excuse and to intentionally or recklessly kill certain types of wild animals and birds.

A man from Windsor filmed himself shooting at swans with an airgun and was given a suspended sentence after sharing the video on social media in 2014.

In another incident, a swan survived being shot in the head on the bank of the Thames after it was found by animal rescue teams.

Ms Hermon added: "Swans are majestic animals, and they play a vital role in naturally balancing our ecosystems.

"They also mate for life, so when even a single swan is killed in this barbaric way, their partner and their offspring often struggle to survive without them.

"Anyone over 18 can buy an air rifle in England and Wales - no questions asked. You don’t need a licence and you can legally own one when you are as young as 14.

"Scotland and Northern Ireland have licensing laws, so why can’t we introduce it in England and Wales?

"Introducing licensing would mean fewer people could get their hands on these guns, which means fewer animals will be hunted down and shot.

"We cannot let our beautiful swans keep being killed like this. Please help me save them from suffering such a cruel and senseless death by signing my petition."