Animal cruelty cases on the rise

Staff at a Somerset animal sanctuary say they are alarmed by a recent increase in cases of animal cruelty.

In the last few days, there have been at least six animals brought to the Secret World Wildlife Rescue near Highbridge.

This includes a small deer injured by a mower and left near a hedge and a hedgehog kicked by children.

Sanctuary owner Pauline Kidner said: "There is no excuse for cruelty. Wildlife does feel pain."

It comes in the same week the RSPCA started an investigation after two dead hares were found nailed to a gate near Frome.

Ms Kidner added: "It really hit me having that spate of horrible things happening.

"I just feel we need to say to people, look we've got to stop it if you see those things happening."