FOUR birds have been found shot dead on a Bicester pond in what may have been “callous target practice”.

The RSPCA was called to Jubilee Lake, near Avocet Way, last Saturday after a passerby noticed the bodies of three ducks and a moorhen floating on the surface.

The animal charity said a vet had confirmed the birds had been shot and are now appealing for witnesses.

It is not clear what type of gun was used, the RSPCA said.

RSPCA inspector Andy Eddy urged anyone with information to call the charity.

He said: “It seems these poor animals were the victims of a deliberate attack — some kind of callous target practice.

“I found four bodies but it seems likely that there were more. It was a really horrible and utterly unnecessary act of cruelty.

“It is important to remember that it is against the law to cause suffering to animals in this way.

“It also seems dangerous to be shooting anything in a residential area such as this, so near to a housing estate where people will be passing by.

Bicester town councillor Dan Sames, who lives on the estate, said: “I can’t believe that people would be so cruel as to take pot shots at a living animal like this.

“I know lots of families with children go to this spot to feed the ducks, and it is absolutely horrific that they instead find their dead bodies floating in the water.”

Anyone with information should call the RSPCA on 0300 1238018.