A heron shot in its wing has died prompting an investigation by the RSPCA following a similar incident in the area.

The bird suffered the fatal airgun wound and was found in a garden in Petts Wood near Orpington.

It is the second incident of a heron being shot in recent years and now officers from the animal welfare charity are appealing for information.

X-rays showed the bird had a shattered left wing which had been caused by an airgun pellet embedded inside the heron's left wing.

The heron is believed to have been shot in an area near Amherst Drive, Sefton Road and Ascot Road on September 23.

Another bird was shot in the same area back in May 2019 and did not survive.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Mat Hawkins attended that same incident and described the latest case as a "cruel and totally unacceptable" act.

He said: "This was a horrible shooting incident, and my suspicions were immediately raised when I realised it was in exactly the same neighbourhood as another shot heron I’d been called out to in the past.

“I could tell straightaway that this poor heron wasn’t going to make it either.

"The initial report we’d had suggested that the bird had broken his wing, but it was clear this was no simple break. When I examined him the whole wing had been completely shattered.

“Sadly, the injury was so severe that to stop him suffering any further, he had to be put to sleep.

"I had my suspicions that once again, I was looking at an airgun incident, and sure enough, X-rays taken later clearly showed a pellet in the heron’s left wing.

“We are very concerned by this cruel and totally unacceptable incident.

"Someone out there is illegally killing wildlife - and doing so in a residential area. We believe the crime took place somewhere in the area bounded by Amherst Drive, Sefton Road and Ascot Road, and we would urge anyone who has information about this to contact our appeals line."

It is illegal to kill or injure wild birds – except under licence – and culprits can face up to six months in prison and an unlimited fine.

Anyone with information on the heron shooting can call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018 or report animals in distress to the charity's cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.