Gloucestershire Police appeal after goshawk killed with air rifle

X-rays showed the bird had suffered a broken hip after being shot with an air rifle

Police are appealing for information after a protected bird of prey was shot and killed with an air rifle.

A member of the public contacted Gloucestershire Police after finding a dead goshawk near Kempley in the Forest of Dean on 27 February.

An X-ray of the bird, which had been ringed, showed that an air rifle pellet had broken its hip and led to its death.

Enquiries into the offence are ongoing, police said.

"Goshawks are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which means it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird," a spokesperson from the force's rural crime team said.

"This sort of offence is taken seriously and if anyone has any information we would be keen to hear from them."