A pensioner has been left devastated after her pet doves were shot and killed with what she thinks was a catapult.

WARNING: Graphic image below

Elaine Black, from Tovil, got a knock on the door from someone who told her that two doves were dead in a cage in her garden.

She said: "There was a pellet in one of them and my son had to take it out, I just couldn't."

There are more than 30 free-flying doves that live in Elaine's garden, and she considers them to be her pets.

She keeps a "fairy garden" beside the tow-path along the River Medway.

It is highly decorated and is a popular feature for visitors – especially children – to the area.

She said: "Someone said they saw boys shooting at things in the area, it was just so sad really to find them like that.

"I did report it to the police but they said that as the doves are classed as wild there is nothing they would do."

Police confirmed they were called on Friday, February 3 to a report that two doves had been found deceased in an aviary at Tail Race in Maidstone.

However, they said the exact cause of the birds’ death is unknown.