Scores of wild birds have died on a boating lake after being struck down by a mystery affliction.

As many as 75 ducks, coots, swans and gulls have been found dead at Brooklands Lake in Worthing in the past month.

The reason for the deaths is not yet known, though they could be the result of over-feeding by members of the public.

The Government's Veterinary Laboratories Agency has been called in to investigate the deaths and post-mortems have been carried out on the birds.

Worthing Council parks manager Chris Bradley said the initial results of investigations suggested the birds had died from botulism.

He said: "This can be brought on in warm weather by the birds eating rotting vegetation or other food which begins to decay, particularly when large quantities of bread and corn are given to them by well meaning members of the public."

Botulism paralyses the birds and stops them from eating. Eventually they die.

Other suggested causes for the deaths include black algae - which appeared on the lake surface about six weeks ago - or water pollution.

Bird rescuer Sylvia Peters, who lives near Brooklands, said: "It is absolutely heartbreaking. So many birds have died there cannot be many left now.

"The wild birds have been using the lake for years and it is more or less the only place in the area where they can go. It is fresh water and has become a haven for coots, moorhens, swans and ducks.

"Now they are just floating on the water, dead. I have been going down there to see them for 15 years and even had swans eating out of my hand but I am staying away now because I can't bear to see what is happening."

Worthing Borough Council and the Worthing District Animal Rescue Service have issued a joint statement saying everything possible is being done to tackle the problem.

Mr Bradley said the council, which runs the lake, was putting up signs warning the public not to feed the birds.