Reward to find school pet killers

An international animal rights charity has offered a reward to help find people who broke into a Leicestershire primary school and killed 18 pets.

The caretaker at Thistly Meadow County Primary School in Blaby found the bodies of nine rabbits and nine chickens on 22 June.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has offered a £1,000 reward to catch the culprits.

Police said the animals died after their necks were wrung by hand.

PETA spokeswoman Laura Grossman said: "Animal abusers are cowards. They take their issues out on the most defenceless beings available to them."

The penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to animals is a maximum six-month prison sentence and a £20,000 fine.