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A 35-year-old man has been arrested after a video of a swan being dragged by its neck outside Caerphilly Castle went viral.

The incident was filmed and posted to Facebook on Sunday December 3.

The 35-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and is currently being questioned in police custody, Gwent Police confirmed.

Brandon Ryzy, 21, witnessed and filmed the “sickening” attack and posted the video on Facebook.

He told BBC Wales: “I was just walking home from doing some shopping when I spotted him in the corner of my eye.

I’m guessing he was under the influence.”

Brandon confronted the man, who claimed the bird had attacked his children, despite not having children with him.

He added: “I did chase after him and made sure he put the swan down. “I had to be very aggressive to get him to stop.”

In a post on Facebook on Tuesday December 5, Caerphilly Bird Rescue said it had been told a dead swan had been recovered from the castle moat. However, it is unclear if it was the swan in the video.

An RSPCA Cymru spokesperson said: “This is a very distressing video and anyone who has any first-hand information about this incident can contact the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 1234 999 or Gwent Police.

“Swans, their nests, and their eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.”