Raw sewage leaked into a stream teeming with wildlife, killing fish and threatening the safety of swans.

Animal rescuers have been working round the clock to minimise the damage to Mill Ditch dyke, leading to Shinewater Lake, Eastbourne, after the pollution was spotted on Monday evening.

Despite the efforts of Trevor Weekes and his team from the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS), fish along the stream and in the lake were killed as the pollution coursed along the two-mile route.

Mr Weekes said: "I was wading around in the dark trying to find the swans. I moved one from the ditch into Princes Park. Sewage can kill a swan in two hours."

After several hours searching for the swan's mate, it was found and reunited with its partner at the nearby park yesterday afternoon.

Staff at Princes Park will keep a close eye on the pair over the next few days to monitor their progress.

Residents in the Shinewater area raised the alarm after noticing a bad smell from the water.

Environment Agency specialists worked with staff from Southern Water to begin a clean-up.

The cause of the leak has been attributed to a fault at a sewage pumping station in Lynholm Road, Polegate, close to Mill Ditch.

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said: "We will be investigating how this happened."