Young gull 'bashed against bin before body dumped'

The young bird was found dead in a litter bin

An investigation has been launched after video footage emerged of a man seemingly picking up a gull before bashing the seabird against a bin and dumping its body inside.

RSPCA Inspector Louise Showering said the "upsetting footage" showed a juvenile gull that was unable to fly being picked up from a pavement in Liverpool.

The charity wants to speak to a man who was seen in the area at the time of the incident, which took place in Whitechapel town centre at about 20:20 BST on 1 July.

Ms Showering said: "We're very keen to establish what happened and we'd like to speak to this man as we believe he may have important information which will help with our enquiries."

The charity released a description of the man as having a grey beard, thought to be in his 60s and wearing glasses.

He was wearing a dark coat and t-shirt with a "distinctive logo", the RSPCA said.

The man was believed to have been holding a bottle in his right hand at the time of the incident and may have "vital information" about what happened, a charity spokesman said.

The RSPCA has not specified what species the young gull was, but under UK law it is illegal to intentionally kill, take or injure wild birds.

A shopworker from a nearby store discovered the dead bird dumped in a bin.

Ms Showering said: "We hope this individual now comes forward or can be identified."