A cat with a pellet lodged in its stomach is believed to be an earlier victim of a gunman who has picked off three other pets in the neighbourhood.

Elaine McMillan believes her cat Sally was shot by the same person responsible for injuring three cats belonging to her neighbour Karen Holland, of Roundhill Crescent, Brighton.

The first of Karen's cats, Mabel, lost an eye after being shot with an airgun near their home in April 2003.

Last week two of her other cats, Richard Alan and Kitty, were shot on two different occasions.

Both of them suffered serious eye injuries.

Karen and her partner Tim Walker have asked police to investigate.

Miss McMillan, 48, who lives next door to Karen and Tim, said her cat Sally still has a pellet embedded in her stomach from an airgun shooting two years ago.

She said: "It's such a worry and so cruel. We're too worried to sit outside now."

Sussex Police are investigating the shootings and are asking anyone with any information to contact Brighton and Hove police on 0845 6070999.