WILDLIFE carers are closing in on the expert marksman believed to have shot dead nearly 40 swans.

Several people have contacted Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill quoting the name of who they think is behind the cruel killings.

A total of 37 swans are feared to have been killed in the Wedmore area since the shocking discovery of eight dead birds in a field off Totney Drove near Burtle on February 21.

Pauline Kidner, Secret World founder, told bridgwatermercury.co.uk today: “We have had quite a few leads which we are passing on to police.

“We have had telephone calls and people coming in and one particular name seems to keep cropping up so it looks promising.”

Various sickened members of the public, including novelist Terry Pratchett, have pledged thousands of pounds as a reward to catch the cruel swan killer.

Mr Pratchett, who has offered £10,000, said: “Someone has got to show that we are not going to stand for this sort of thing.

“It's not a scrap in the street - someone is shooting these great swans for a bit of fun. It's wanton destruction and I want to see somebody in court for it.”

The bounty now stands at just over £25,000 following a £5,000 pledge from Animal Friend’s Insurance.

Pauline said she has been “overwhelmed” with the response from the public and has now set up a Save Our Swans appeal so donations will go into creating educational packs about wildlife for children.