More than two dozen birds have been found dead outside a train station in a suspected case of animal cruelty.
Wildlife charity West Sussex Wildlife Protection received a call on September 3 in relation to several dead birds outside Chichester Station.
A charity rescuer attended the scene and discovered 25 birds which had been dumped at the scene, including collared doves, wood pigeons, feral pigeons, and a racing pigeon.
The birds were subsequently taken to a local vet surgery, where X-rays confirmed they had been killed with a catapult.
A spokesperson for the charity said: "Unfortunately, there is no available CCTV, so we are appealing for anyone with any information on this incident to please contact us on 01243 825804.
"We work very closely with the League Against Cruel Sports and Sussex Police on these matters.
"If anyone witnesses catapult attacks, please report to 999 and Operation Lakeshot."
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure, or take any wild bird, or to damage their nests and eggs.
It is also illegal to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal through a deliberate act, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Operation Lakeshot is a multi-agency initiative spearheaded by the League Against Cruel Sports, which aims to tackle the issue of catapult attacks on birds.
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West Sussex Wildlife Protection has been established for more than 20 years and works to safeguard and rescue animals across West Sussex and Southeast Hampshire.
The charity is the primary police contact for the area when the RSPCA is unavailable.
A petition to introduce mandatory prison sentences for deliberate cruelty to wild birds gathered more than 22,000 signatures earlier this year.
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