A WOMAN has told of her shock after a bird on her roof was deliberately killed by someone using a catapult.

Gilly Bristow witnessed two teenage boys fire a piece of brick at the pigeon roosting on her bungalow roof killing the bird instantly.

The 72-year-old said she has been left distressed by the incident in Plainfields Avenue, Patcham, Brighton.

She said: “I just stepped out my back door to put food out for the wild birds, and I looked to my left and I could see through the back gate two boys holding a high-velocity catapult.

“They aimed at the roof and knocked the bird out the sky. The small brick they used as a missile came down and missed my head.

“The noise was horrendous. It’s wing was broken and it was bleeding, and then it died. That’s how strong it was.”

Following the incident other residents in the area have reported similar incidents on social media.

One reported finding a dead pigeon in the bushes near the backs of houses on Braeside Avenue, after seeing two boys holding the bird.

Another one told how two boys had been shooting at birds on her roof using an air rifle.

Ms Bristow said it is only a matter of time before a pet or even a person is injured by the weapons.

She added: “I live on the edge of South Downs National Park. They could be killing other wildlife.

“I am a trustee for Cat Welfare Sussex and I am an animal lover, but anyone would find this distressing. They are disgusting and dangerous.

“Next door they have children, if they had fired it over that garden it could have killed one of the kids.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called to Plainfields Avenue in Patcham at around 3pm on Sunday after a pigeon was killed.

“Two boys were reported to have fired, what was thought to be, a piece of brick from a high powered catapult at the bird. The boys were described to be of around 16-years-old and with fair hair. “ Anyone with information can call 101 quoting reference 0852 of 07/08.”