Day-old chicks found dead in heat

The birds were left in direct sunlight, the RSPCA said

More than 2,500 chicks have died after being left in boxes in a lay-by.

The RSPCA said officers found that most of the day-old pheasant and red-legged partridge chicks had been overcome by the sweltering heat.

Up to 2,590 birds were found in 33 stacked boxes in Chemical Lane in Stoke-on-Trent. Only 54 were alive.

Twenty-two were later put to sleep and 32 were taken to a rescue centre where a further 20 died. The remaining 12 are very weak, the RSPCA said.

'Horrendous death'

It is thought the birds were dumped after being bought at a market.

RSPCA inspector John Groarke said he was "horrified" to find most of the chicks lying lifeless in the boxes.

"To me it would appear to be an act of sheer laziness where someone has got out of a vehicle and neatly stacked these boxes in direct sunlight and drove off leaving the birds to suffer a horrendous death," he said.

"It is possible that someone had just bought the chicks at market and then had second thoughts, or possibly the chicks were dying in the heat while being transported and the delivery driver decided to dump them.

"Whatever the reason these birds didn't stand a chance and I appeal to anyone who either witnessed anything or who knows where these chicks came from to please contact me."