LOCK keeper Alan Giddings, who has worked on the canal in Devizes for 40 years, has told of his anger and upset after swans' eggs were taken from two nests close to the Caen Hill flight.

Mr Giddings, 59, is sure that foxes or other predators are not to blame and think an organised gang may have braved the angry swan parents to steal the eggs for sale on the black market.

He said: "I was very upset when I realised the first eight eggs had gone and then even more angry when it happened again a week later and another seven were taken from a different nest.

"I am convinced that people who knew what they were doing are responsible. If I had to put money on it I would say it was humans as no mess was left behind. It must have happened in the middle of the night or otherwise someone would have spotted something."

One clutch of eggs was taken from his favourite swan couple he has called Pain and Backside. He believes that at least two or three people must have worked together to lure the feisty male Pain away from his mate and then for the eggs to be taken from the nest watched over by Backside.

It is illegal to take swans' eggs but there is a black market trade for them among some unscrupulous collectors.

Mr Giddings was relieved when he noticed that the pair were guarding a new clutch of seven eggs but earlier this week he was still worried that they may not hatch.

On Tuesday canal ecologist Laura Mullholland contacted the Gazette to say hatching had started much to Mr Giddings delight.

He has a special bond with the swans on his stretch of the canal and checks them several times a day. People living in flats that overlook the canal have also started their own swan watch in an attempt to keep them safe.

Miss Mullholland said that the trust had considered putting in cameras to try and safeguard the swans' eggs but it was not thought this was a practical solution.

But both her and Mr Giddings asked people who use the canal to be on alert. Mr Giddings said: "Visitors love the swans and a lot of people were very upset when they knew what had happened to the eggs. You could tell by the way they were acting that the swans themselves were also very upset to lose the eggs."

Swan eggs usually hatch about 30 days after they are laid and the cygnets will stay with their parents for about six months before the parents make it clear it is time they fly off to find their own stretch of water.

The youngsters are encouraged into the water almost as soon as they are born and can immediately swim but they have to be taught how to fly by their parents when they are about three months old.