POLICE in Darwen are appealing for information after a number of pigeons were found shot dead in the town.

Six pigeons were found dead in the Redearth Road area and are believed to have been shot by an air rifle.

It comes just weeks after sixducks and a goose were shot dead at Ashton Park in a mid-morning incident.

PC Phil Hambley, Community Beat Manager for Darwen said; “We believe that these pigeons have been shot over a period of a few days to a week, possibly beginning around April 23 and so we would appeal to anyone who may have been in or around the Redearth Road area over the past few days to contact us if they have seen any suspicious activity or have any information that could assist with the investigation.

“At this time, we are also linking this report to a previous incident in March where a goose and six ducks were shot dead and left floating in the pond in Ashton Park and so we would ask anyone with information on either of these incidents to contact us on 101.”

People with information can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.