A couple were left horrified after yobs shot down and killed a pigeon with a slingshot in a busy park, and then ran away giggling.

The pair, who do not wish to be named, saw the two boys, thought to be around 13 years old, scarper after using metal BB bullets to take down the bird in Westgate Gardens, Canterbury, on Saturday, December 17.

The shaken pair tried the save the creature, which was squirming on the floor, but it died about a minute after the vicious act, committed at lunchtime.

One anonymous resident, 28, says: “It was a sunny day and we were really looking forward to it because we were going to make a day out of it and go into town.

“But after that, I felt like I needed to find a private place to cry it out.”

He placed the animal’s body out of the way in a flower bed by the river following the disturbing incident.

The popular city centre gardens were busy with Christmas shoppers and families at the time, and the locals worried something bigger could be targeted next time.

“I was confused at first. I thought ‘There's no way two teens are shooting wildlife in a park’.

“It was rammed - there were little kids everywhere. I was really angry because they were laughing about it.

“They ran away giggling. They obviously don't care.”

He added adds: “It's a pigeon now, then it's a duck, then it's a squirrel, then it's a pet, and then it could be a person and it's a real problem.”

The Canterbury resident moved away from the city for university ten years ago and only returned two months ago.

‘It's a pigeon now, then it's a duck, then it's a squirrel...’

He was shocked, he says, by the behaviour of young people in the city, when he moved back.

He explains: “They are so rude, so obnoxious and are just causing havoc.

“It's mental - I can't believe what I saw. It's just everywhere and it seems like it's normal - no one bats an eyelid.”

As well as killing the bird, it is thought the yobs also smashed a door window at a house across the park.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “We were made aware of an incident in Westgate Gardens, Canterbury at around 12.45pm on Sunday 17 December 2023, when two boys - aged approximately 13 - were reportedly seen firing a catapult at a bird.

“Local beat officers have been made aware of the incident and have descriptions of the boys.

“Kent Police was then contacted at 4pm on the same day and it was reported that the door of a property in Westgate Grove, Canterbury had been damaged.

“The incident is believed to have taken place at around 12.47pm that day.

“Anyone with information about this incident should on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/222422/23.”