AN ANIMAL charity is appealing for information after a bird feeder was covered in glue and rigged as a trap at a nature reserve.

A council park warden discovered the glue trap on a feeder at Warnham Local Nature Reserve in Horsham on Tuesday.

The discovery comes just two months after five blue tits and one great tit were found dead having become stuck in similar traps at the same location.

The sticky substance, known as bird lime, was placed on the feeders to trap any bird that came into contact with it. The same substance has been used in the latest incident.

Chief Inspector Will Mitchell, from the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, said: “Six birds have already died due to these cruel traps being set up in this nature reserve.

“We are now renewing our appeal for anyone with information to get in touch with us so we can find those individuals responsible for inflicting slow and painful deaths on these poor wild birds.

“It is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to trap or attempt to trap wild birds and this type of trapping causes immense distress and suffering to the birds.”

Two men were seen in the area at the time. Both are described as being in their early to mid-20s, between 5’10’’ and 6ft in height and wearing jeans and trainers.

One was wearing a blue parka and the other a blue puffer jacket and black Raiders baseball hat.

Call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018 if you have any information.