Cats are one of the most common targets

The Scottish SPCA has called for better enforcement of airgun legislation after a spate of incidents.

Its research suggested that while the number of attacks had remained roughly the same over the past year, there had been an increase in their severity.

The Home Office already plans tighter rules, with a new registration scheme and a bill on guns published last June.

The survey, entitled Airgun Agony, is thought to be the most extensive ever carried out in the UK.

It found that 75% of vets and Scottish SPCA inspectors had dealt with the aftermath of an airgun attack.

Severe attacks

The most common targets appeared to be cats, although attacks on wildlife, including swans and birds of prey, were also reported to the charity.

In one incident, a horse had to be destroyed after its heart, lungs, liver and intestines were badly damaged by airgun pellets.

The majority of attacks were in the central belt, while more than 20 cases were reported in both Aberdeen and Glasgow last year.

Natalie Smart of the SSPCA said: "We want to make people realise that there is a lot of suffering going on".

This report only shows the tip of the iceberg in Scotland Natalie Smart SSPCA

She described an incident where a keeper of show pigeons had 50 of his birds, including two rare birds imported from Germany, shot by airguns over the past five years.

"Not only are they his pets and he devotes his entire life to taking care of them, but they are also very valuable possessions. He's heartbroken about it," said Ms Smart.

"We're not attacking airgun users. A lot of people are misusing airguns and this is giving airgun clubs and airgun users a very bad name.

Ms Smart said the SSPCA had "constant communication" with Dechmont Air Rifle and Pistol Club near Glasgow when conducting its research.

She said: "They raised many of the concerns which they feel as legitimate airgun users, and as a club, they have suffered from negative press and have had to defend themselves many times from misinformation on the controlled use of airguns."

The SSPCA said it had seen a number of attacks being carried out by children.

"This report only shows the tip of the iceberg in Scotland," said Ms Smart.

Tighter rules

The charity said it was keen to work alongside Scotland's police forces in a bid to tackle the problem.

Jim McGovern of Lothian and Borders Police, the first full-time police officer in Scotland to hold the post of wildlife crime co-ordinator, said it was too easy for airguns to be transformed into powerful and potentially deadly weapons.

The Violent Crime Reduction Bill, aimed at reducing gun crime, is currently going through the Westminster parliament.

And in October, a new registration scheme to restrict the sale of airguns to registered dealers was announced by the Home Office.