'Sickening' crossbow pistol attack on gull agony

Animal welfare experts are appealing for information after a gull was shot with a crossbow pistol.

The Scottish SPCA said a member of the public found the injured bird in Kirkcaldy's Templehall Avenue.

They took the bird to a local vet where it had to be put down.

So far no-one has been traced in relation to the attack - and the charity is appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Senior Inspector Steven Gray said: "The injured gull was found on Templehall Avenue in Kirkcaldy and had been shot by a crossbow pistol.

"The bow had gone through the bird's wing and was still stuck in its body. The gull's wing was totally shattered and as a result the vet's only option was to humanely destroy the bird.

"This was a sickening attack which will have caused the bird a great deal of suffering. This incident is cause for concern as someone has used a crossbow pistol in a built-up area and could injure other animals or even people."

A spokeswoman for the charity added: "Anyone with information should contact Kirkcaldy Police or the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999. All information provided is treated in the strictest confidence."

Police have been alerted to the incident but no arrests have been made.

Animal charities have been investigating a series of crossbow attacks on seagulls across the UK in recent months.

In Scarborough, a gull was found alive with a crossbow bolt through its head and survived after surgery. It was later released back into the wild.

However, across the country there have been an estimated 24 attacks on gulls with crossbows in the last year.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds also condemned the attacks.

Investigations officer James Leonard said: "These attacks are shocking, barbaric and illegal."