Children's firework kills puppy

The puppy's owners are said to be distraught

A puppy has died after a gang of children, some as young as 12, threw a lit firework at it.

Officials from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) have described the incident as "horrific".

It happened on the Gowkthrapple housing estate in Wishaw.

The boxer puppy had been playing in its owner's garden when it managed to wriggle through the back fence.

The family who owned the puppy are absolutely distraught Mairi Ball,SSPCA

Children had been reported throwing fireworks nearby and a neighbour who heard a dog in distress rushed outside to find the puppy lying with severe burns.

Mairi Ball, spokeswoman for the SSPCA, said: "The neighbour called us and an inspector was dispatched to the scene. The puppy was very distressed and in a very bad way.

"Our inspector rushed it to a nearby vet but sadly it died as she arrived from a combination of severe burns and shock."

She added: "The family who owned the puppy are absolutely distraught. It is only a sick individual who could target a puppy in this way, no animal should suffer for human entertainment.

"With someone showing complete disregard for animals in this way is very worrying, it makes you wonder what they will do next."