Three boys arrested after pigeons found dead

Three boys have been arrested after several pigeons were found dead under a pier.

Hampshire Police were called to South Parade Pier in Southsea on Saturday morning after a number of dead pigeons were discovered. There was also reports on Tuesday on Commercial Road, Portsmouth, of pigeons being stamped on and shot with slingshots.

A 12-year-old boy and two 13-year-old boys, all from Portsmouth, were arrested on suspicion of killing a wild bird and possession of an offensive weapon.

Three slingshots were seized. The boys have been bailed until 30 September while enquiries continue.

The dead birds were discovered underneath the pier by volunteers from Wild Hearts Rescue and Rehabilitation.

Alice Pryor, who runs the independent rescue centre based in Emsworth, said the dead birds were taken to a vets for examination which showed the majority had "evidence of catapult wounds".

Pryor said one of the surviving pigeons had a damaged wing and a broken leg, and injuries that were "consistent with being stamped on".

The other surviving pigeon "was near enough dead" when the volunteer picked it up, however it has since started recovering, she said.