Speared pigeon and shot swan die

A swan and a pigeon have been killed in two savage attacks in Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The pigeon was found in Aldridge with a metal arrow through its body while the swan was shot with an airgun in the neck in Bilston.

RSPCA officials say they believe the wild birds were used for shooting practice and have revealed both would have suffered "painful" deaths.

The dead pigeon was found behind a garden shed in Quicksand Lane in Aldridge. The arrow, thought to be of the type used for archery, had gone in through the bird's tail feathers and into its body. It is thought the bird had been roosting and had been shot from behind.

The swan was attacked by someone brandishing an air gun at the canal off Ladymoor Road in Bilston.

When RSPCA officers arrived at the scene the swan was very ill with a severe injury to its eye. It was rushed to the vets but died after it was discovered it had been shot in the neck.