Workers in China continue to recover thousands of dead pigs from a river near Shanghai.

A pig swimming. Or up to its neck in its own piss and shit. Looks happy either way.

As the enormous haul of porcine cadavers continues to be pulled from the river, which is used as a source of drinking water, locals are talking of a tragic end to an attempt to break the world pig synchronised swimming record.

Many of the delicious victims were found wearing nose plugs and expensive goggles, lending some weight to the theory.

Further rumours abound that the tragedy may have been caused by the greedy swine going face-down in the troughs, immediately before attempting to execute a particularly vigorous routine to a Lady Ga-Ga track.

A recipe for fatal oink cramp.

Upriver, a sound system, and piles of shit-streaked towels were found abandoned.

Local butchery markets are bracing themselves for an influx of slightly damp bacon.

There is no official statement yet on the story.

The ghost of Roy Castle was also unavailable for comment.