(Image: GOOGLE)
Thirteen ducks have been found dead in a County Durham pond in what an MP has condemned as a “senseless act of cruelty”.
The birds, discovered near Cong Burn Woods in Pelton Fell, are believed to have been shot with an airgun
North Durham MP Luke Akehurst said: “I was shocked and deeply concerned to hear about the killing of 13 ducks in Pelton Fell near Cong Burn Woods this week.
"This is a senseless act of cruelty and follows the discovery of dead rabbits in the Pelton area last month.
"I will be speaking to Durham Constabulary again to determine whether there is any link between these incidents.
"Anyone with information or concerns should contact the police or get in touch with me directly.”
A Durham Constabulary spokesman said: “The Chester-le-Street Neighbourhood Police team are aware of the incident and the public concern it has caused.”
Officers are monitoring the area and liaising with the community and partner agencies.
The five dead rabbits found seemingly lined up at the bus-stop on Front Street, Pelton (Image: LOUISE)
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This comes after five dead rabbits were discovered on Front Street in Pelton lined up in a neat row on a bus bench at around 8.30am on Saturday (September 5) by a member of the public who branded it 'horrifying' and 'quite alarming'.
Mr Akehurst said at the time that he incident had caused "great distress" to residents.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "We’re appalled and saddened to hear that a large number of ducks have reportedly died in this way.
"It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to deliberately injure and kill wild birds and we’d urge anyone with first-hand information about this incident to contact the police or the RSPCA.”