Kent has seen the highest number of animals attacked with weapons over the past four years, according to the RSPCA.

Data released by the animal charity this week shows 56 reports of animals being attacked with weapons in the county between 2020 and May 2023, including two cats, belonging to the same owner, who were shot in the face.

Greater London and Merseyside cap off the top three with 47 and 35 incidents, whilst Bristol, Northumberland and Hereford sit bottom of the list with one each.

Overall, the RSPCA says it has received 806 reports in this time period, mostly concerning air guns and rifles, with wild birds and cats bearing the brunt.

Across the country, incidents included youths shooting nesting ducks and swans, an emaciated duck found shot in the head with an air rifle, and a duck attacked with a crossbow.

RSPCA chief inspector for Kent, Nicholas Wheelhouse said: “It is unspeakably cruel, totally unacceptable and illegal to shoot animals for ‘fun’ - or as target practice, but sadly our emergency line is receiving hundreds of reports.

“We think of ourselves as a nation of animal lovers, but the RSPCA’s experience shows that there are people out there who are deliberately targeting wildlife, pets and farm animals with guns, catapults and crossbows. These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering.

“Each year, reports of cruelty reach a terrible annual peak in the summer months – and we're braced for another summer of reports about innocent animals being targeted by air rifles, catapults and other deadly weapons.”

The charity has released the figures as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign in a bid to raise funds to help frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse.

The RSPCA has long been campaigning to remove the loophole from firearm legislation which allows youths unsupervised possession of air weapons on private land, describing it as a “recipe for disaster”.

Plans to amend the law were agreed with the Government last summer - though work to alter the Firearms Rule 1998 to strengthen controls on access to airguns is yet to occur.

In November last year, Kerry Pearce saw two of her beloved cats shot and injured by thugs sporting air rifles, in Faversham.

At the time, RSPCA animal rescue officer Lynn White branded the attack "callous and deliberate” and admitted “the fact that this is the second time this has happened in just a few weeks is extremely worrying.”

Carly Ahlen, founder of Gabo Wildlife, works to protect, rescue and rehabilitate wildlife across Kent.

She said of the latest RSPCA figures: “Attending to call outs about injured, sick or orphaned wild animals, day in and out, is never easy, but when our precious wildlife is targeted so viciously and intentionally, it really leaves you in a dark place.

“I am not surprised that Kent is high on the RSPCA's list. Having been called out to emergencies across Kent, such as a shot and drowned fox, catapulted and decapitated swans and also wood pigeons shot with air guns I could understand this is sadly a growing concern.

All wild birds, including swans, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take them except under licence. Meanwhile, anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can face up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.