Upset residents say they were horrified after watching a group of boys “torture” and kill birds with catapults.

The teenagers also allegedly kicked and threw a duck against a wall by the River Medway near Fremlin Walk in Maidstone.

Warning: article contains distressing images

A mum, who did not want to be named, said she witnessed eight boys walking along the pathway last Sunday (June 9) at around 3.30pm.

She was set to go kayaking with her partner and daughter when she spotted the distressing incident from Lockmeadow car park.

“To my horror, I saw these boys with catapults,” she said. “It was quite a distance, but I had my mouth open thinking ‘oh my god what am I seeing?’

“This poor duck, it was flapping about. They held it by its feet while others fly-kicked it and threw it against the wall.

“I was so upset – how can you do this to a living creature?”

The 41-year-old, originally from Elephant and Castle in London, moved to Kent last November.

She says the birds regularly sit on the walkway and are “easy targets”.

She immediately reported the incident to the police. Both the duck and the pigeon died.

“They tortured them in front of everybody,” she added. “It was like they had tunnel vision – they didn't care who was around.

“Honestly the first thing I thought was I don't want to be here anymore, I don't want to live here.”

The mum-of-two posted a warning on Facebook, which prompted dozens of angry comments.

One person said: “What is actually wrong with people at the moment, I just can’t believe it. Poor animals.”

“So heartbreaking, the poor ducks and babies,” another added. “Something definitely needs to be done to protect our wildlife.”

Wendy Burniston-Jones also watched the boys, who appeared to be aged 11 to 15, attack the birds.

She said: “They came past us being quite loud. There was a lot of shouting and at first I didn’t think anything of it.

“Two of them that had catapults then started firing at the pigeons.

“They were all laughing and as soon as they saw they were being watched they stuffed the weapons down their trousers.”

Read our report on the sick world of TikTok animal abusers using catapults to kill wildlife in Kent.

“I'd like to see catapults be made illegal,” she added. “Why do people need them?

“Police should have the power to confiscate and remove that item from the children.”

While it is not illegal to buy or carry a catapult, causing an animal unnecessary suffering is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Maidstone councillor Rachel Rodwell (Green) lives on the River Medway and believes people have been “targeting” wildlife for years.

“It’s not just that area that is affected. We have seen a depleted number of ducks and geese in East Farleigh and Allington as well,” she explained.

“The problem is that people see it happening, they phone the police and by the time officers arrive the culprits have gone. It’s mindless killing and is absolutely awful.”

The councillor says it is not just animals that have been picked on.

She said: “As boaters, we are very anxious. I’ve been catapulted and my home has been stoned.

“A lot of children and parents nowadays don’t have empathy for wildlife.”

“These incidents increase in bank holidays and during summer period,” she added.

“We have been speaking with the local beat officer and are hoping to increase police presence in the area.

“If you see something like this happen please report it immediately to 101.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 3.35pm on Sunday, June 9, to a report that a group of young people near Fremlin Walk, Maidstone had been seen firing a catapult at a duck in the River Medway.

“Officers attended and carried out a search of the area but were unable to locate any suspects.”

Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 09-0815.