Your front-page story about the troublesome swans at Kidlington (Oxford Mail, May 29) is an example of what can happen when the population of an animal with no natural predators gets out of control.

The Queen is the nominal owner of swans. She should assume her responsibility and relocate the problem animals. She should also compensate the farmers whose fields of oilseed rape are damaged by these creatures.

The residents of Lane Close, Kidlington, have nothing to fear. Swans are bullies and like all bullies, they are cowards at heart.

I once saw a swan trying to drive a great crested grebe off her nest.

The grebe stood her ground and the swan backed off. A grebe is about the size of a bantam cockerel with a long neck.

FRED TOWNS

Spare Acre Lane

Eynsham

Oxford