RSPCA investigates 10 suspicious seagull deaths

RSPCA has appealed for information after "10 seagulls were found dead" in Great Yarmouth

An animal welfare charity said it was investigating after the bodies of 10 seagulls were found on an industrial estate.

The RSPCA appealed for information after it said a “suspicious” number of dead gulls were found in Norfolk in recent weeks - including one which had a pea-sized hole believed to have been caused by an air gun.

The charity said it was alerted by workers on the estate in Harfrey’s Road, Great Yarmouth. It added that most of the bodies were too decomposed to establish a cause of death.

Norfolk police has been contacted for comment.

The body with the "gunshot injury" was taken for a post-mortem examination, the charity said.

The RSPCA added it had acquired a video recording of birds on top of a warehouse. It said after a gunshot noise was heard, birds could be seen fleeing.

The BBC has also seen a picture of one of the deceased birds.

RSPCA animal rescue officer, Tom Brodie, said: “It is concerning to hear that a number of birds have been found dead - and while we don’t know the cause of all the deaths - it is suspicious considering they were found in the same area and there was a large number of them.

"We are grateful to the local business who reported their concerns to us.”

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is illegal - except under licence - to take, injure or kill wild birds.