Hinstock peacock put down after being shot six times with airgun

The peacock was put down to prevent further suffering, the RSPCA said

A peacock was put down after he was shot six times with an airgun, the RSPCA said.

The bird was found in a field in Hinstock, near Market Drayton, Shropshire, on 28 January with pellets lodged in his leg and elsewhere.

The peacock was known in the village with residents looking out for it for eight years.

"They were genuinely very upset to hear the shocking news," said John Groarke, an RSPCA animal rescue officer.

"They loved to watch him fly into the fields near their properties and were very fond of his presence."

Warning - this story contains some graphic detail.

The bird was taken to the animal welfare charity's Stapeley Grange Wildlife Hospital in Nantwich, Cheshire, for treatment.

X-rays revealed an airgun pellet had completely shattered his left leg.

An X-ray showed five other pellets in the bird's body along with the one which shattered its leg, the charity said

A further five were then found to have gone through the animal's body in various places, severely damaging muscles and tendons.

The peacock was put down to prevent further suffering, the charity said.

Between 50 and 70 animals which were shot by airguns were treated at Stapeley Grange each year, the charity said.

Victims included swans, geese, ducks, birds of prey and pigeons as well badgers, foxes and squirrels.

Centre manager Lee Stewart said: "From the amount of pellets we found, it's clear that someone has set out to intentionally kill this peacock rather than taking a quick pot-shot and unfortunately they succeeded."

Anyone caught deliberately using an airgun to injure an animal can face up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act, the RSPCA said.