An injured pigeon has sparked fears thugs are firing airguns at animals in Folkestone town centre.

The bird, named Patrick, was left without the use of his wings and was taken in by resident Linda Hicks, after she spotted him on the ground outside Debenhams in Sandgate Road.

She took him to Abbeywell Vets, where an x-ray discovered the airgun injury.

Mrs Hicks, who lives near Bouverie Road West, said the bird was unable to fly and “all puffed up” but she did not notice that he had been injured with a pellet.

She said: “I took him home and kept him in my conservatory overnight with some seeds.

“He was still sitting in the box I’d put him in the next morning.

“So I moved him to the shed for some more space and continued to feed him. He perked up over the weekend but still wasn’t flying.”

After consulting bird organisation Fur and Feather Wildlife Trust, it was advised the pigeon, who was given the name Patrick, was taken to the vets.

Mrs Hicks, who found the bird on January 13, took him to Abbeywell Vets in Majestic Parade, Sandgate Road, where he underwent a closer inspection.

A statement released by the vets on its Facebook page said: “This pigeon was brought to us because it was unable to fly.

“This bird was very lucky...the bad news is that this will not be the last animal this year that will suffer needlessly after being shot with an airgun" - Abbeywell Vets

"We examined it but couldn’t feel any obvious broken bones, so we took an X-ray to have a proper look under those feathers.

“The mood quickly changed when we realised this bird had been carelessly shot with an airgun.

“This bird was very lucky because we were able to treat it and remove the pellet.

“The bad news is that this will not be the last animal this year that will suffer needlessly after being shot with an airgun.”

The bird is still being cared for at the vets.

Police said the incident had not been reported to them.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 says that it is an offence to kill any bird – including pigeons – unless a licence is held.