AN ANGRY cyclist ran over a seagull then slammed it to the pavement by its wing.

The battered seagull has died following the injuries sustained in the attack at Churchill Square, Brighton, at about 3.45pm on Thursday.

The bird’s wing was hanging out of its socket and shocked onlookers called for help.

Animal charity RSPCA said it is investigating the attack and is urging anyone with information about the cyclist.

One witness said: “[He] literally grabbed him by the wing and threw him on the pavement and rode off.

“[He] was more concerned about his bike than the animal he’d just severely injured.

“The gull was moved to the pavement from the road by a man but the bird kept biting him so he had to put the bird down.”

Stunned shoppers then called animal services for help.

One man put his jacked around the bird and took it for treatment.

The witness said it was confirmed to her that the bird had to be put to sleep yesterday evening.

She added: “I don’t know the man’s name [the rescuer] but he seemed to know more about what to do than anyone else there as the RSPCA has a one to four-hour wait.

The cyclist is yet to be identified and the RSPCA is asking for information.

A spokeswoman said: “We’re sorry to hear reports about an attack on a gull.

“Anyone with information about deliberate harm being caused to this bird, or any other animal, should contact us on 0300 1234 999.”

Roger Musselle, who runs a wildlife centre from his Woodingdean home, said: “When a gull’s wing is broken or dislocated at the shoulder, there is nothing you can do to pin it back in.

“They will have to be euthanised as it is not fair to have them live 30 odd years in cage.

“The herring gull is protected by law, they’re red listed, and their numbers have crashed worldwide.

“But try telling that to the anti-gull brigade. We have had two shot in the area.

“The problem is nobody ever get prosecuted as the police often have little evidence to go on.

“If a few people are, we might see the attacks stopped.”

The assault on the protected bird comes after seagull attacks on dogs hit the headlines.

Two weeks ago, a chihuahua called Gizmo is believed to have been grabbed and killed by a seagull in Devon.

And this week, Yorkshire Terrier Roo died after being savaged by a gull in the back garden of a home in Cornwall.