Eight ducks killed at Chorley beauty spot (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Eight ducks killed at Chorley beauty spot

12:59pm Sunday 24th April 2011 in Brinscall By Sam Chadderton, Reporter

EIGHT ducks have been found mutilated at a popular Lancashire beauty spot.

Chorley Council and Lancashire police have launched an investigation after a local resident found one duck impaled on railings at Lodge Bank, Brinscall.

The six Muscovy ducks and two mallards were found dead by local residents last weekend.

Local councillor Alison Hansford said she had been given the names of three suspects - aged just 11 and 12 years old.

She said: “Other children have come to me and reported three children who have been seen throwing stones at the ducks and smashing their eggs. I have passed that information to the police.

“It is very worrying to see that level of animal cruelty at that age. I can’t understand why anyone would want to harm an animal in that way. I was really upset when I heard what had happened.”

One resident, who did not want to be named, said she believed the ducks, which are slow and cannot fly, may even have been shot with a pellet gun and that others looked like they had been savaged.

Lodge Bank is a popular place for parents to take young children to feed the ducks. It is close to a newly-opened playground.

Jamie Carson, the council’s director of people and places said he was ‘shocked’ and said neighbourhood officers would be stepping up patrols to find the people responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the council on 01254 515151 or the police on 0845 1 253545.