RSPCA officials say they were "sickened" after a young swan was shot out of the sky and another died after being pelted with stones.

The cygnet shot above rural Lancashire was spotted, soaked in blood, by two young girls at Goosnargh, near Preston, on Saturday.

The bird survived but an X-ray of its injured right wing, carried out at the Hutcheson Veterinary Surgery in nearby Longridge, revealed almost 30 shotgun cartridge fragments.

Just a day later vets were forced to destroy another severely injured cygnet after youths pelted it with stones in Stadt Moers Park, Whiston, Merseyside.

Airgun pellet

The animal charity said the attack left the bird bloodied, with a twisted neck, blind in one eye and unable to use its right leg.

An airgun pellet was also lodged in its right wing.

The RSPCA is now appealing for help in catching the culprits who could face prison if convicted.

Both birds were believed to be less than 12 months old.

Officials say the shot cygnet was lucky to survive not only the cartridge wound but the lengthy fall on to hard ground.

'Appalling attack'

Experts say it is unlikely the bird, now recovering at the Swan's Rest sanctuary, at Singleton, near Blackpool, would have been mistaken for game.

RSPCA collection officer Greg Billington, who found the bird, said: "The cygnet was covered in blood when I arrived but I could not find any obvious open wound.

"We occasionally rescue swans that have been injured after flying into electricity cables so I though this might have been the cause of this cygnet's injuries.

"The X-ray was to prove otherwise. This was an appalling attack on an innocent animal."