Thugs and litter louts have been slammed after the deaths of two hedgehogs in Sheerness.

One of the animals had to be put down after it was kicked along Estuary Road - and the other died after getting its head stuck in a McFlurry pot discarded in a canal.

Ray Allibone, who runs Swampy's Wildlife Rescue, was given the badly-injured hedgehog early on Sunday by a couple who saw it being abused the previous evening.

It had suffered numerous bruises, was paralysed from a broken spine and swollen by fluid that had built up around its smashed bones.

He took it to Wellpets, in Minster, but the animal could not be saved.

Mr Allibone said: "They've not only killed one hedgehog, but several as this was a lactating mother, so the awful thing is the babies will die if not found.

"Hedgehogs are having a bad time as it is without mindless idiots who enjoy inflicting such terrible injuries and suffering to a poor defenceless animal."

Denise Harden was out for a bike ride with her husband Dean when she saw the other hedgehog floating in The Fleet, off Medway Road.

"The poor little thing probably thought there was some food in there..." - Denise Harden

The 51-year-old said it was very upsetting to see and it made her furious that anyone would throw their rubbish.

She said: "The poor little thing probably thought there was some food in there.

"I want to highlight to people how important it is to put rubbish in a bin.

"It's so simple – and this is what can happen when you don't clear up. Hedgehogs are on the decline as it is."

Mrs Harden, of Marian Avenue, Minster, saw the creature just weeks after Sheppey firefighters had to rescue a duck trapped in fishing line left on the bank of the same stretch of canal.

The bird had tackle through its tongue and upper beak as well as around its leg.

Swale council has ongoing problems with the area and numerous clean-ups of the water have taken place in the past.

Cllr David Simmons, cabinet member for environment and rural affairs, said litter not only spoils the area for people who walk there - but also hard-working volunteers.

He added: "It's terrible an animal has suffered in this way due to someone not using one of the four bins provided along The Fleet to dispose of their rubbish properly."

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