A person with an air rifle who has been targeting pet cats in the Tremar Coombe area, leaving one dead and two others injured, has been branded 'blatantly cruel' by animal welfare officers.

The officers from Cornwall Council are appealing for information about the series of incidents in which the cats have been shot.

Since May, three cats in the Tremar Coombe area near Liskeard have been shot and one of the animals died from its injuries. In the most recent case, the cat was shot once in the front leg, shattering the bone, and once in the chest.

Checkie Taylor, Cornwall Council's Liskeard-based senior animal welfare officer, said: 'It's a very small community and somebody out there must know who is doing this.

Cruelty

'There is no excuse for such blatant cruelty. These animals are being caused immense pain and suffering, and we would like to bring the person responsible to justice.

'If anyone has any information about these incidents, we would ask them to please get in touch with the animal welfare team. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.'

Anyone with any information about the incidents can contact Cornwall Council's animal welfare officers on 01579 345439.