Reward to catch goose killer who 'shot bird in drive-by shooting'

A £275,000 reward has offered to catch the killers of a much-loved goose who was shot in a suspected drive-by shooting.

The village of Sandon in Hertfordshire, where the bird was a mascot, is in mourning after their favourite feathered friend was shot on Sunday.

Locals claimed a man in a 4x4 leaned out of the window and shot the animal, known as Goose, in the head.

The death sparked a national outcry and two members of the public contacted the BBC's Jeremy Vine Show to stump up the massive cash reward to find the culprits.

Little Michelle Imura, four, sits by the phone box where Goose used to go. Credit: SWNS

Gay Ayton, who has lived in the village for 20 years, said: "It's shocking and sickening and so spineless.

"We've always had a goose here. He was a character. A lot of the villagers are feeling very sad. Everyone knew him. The kids loved him."

Goose used to frequent the red phone box in the village, which has now become a shrine to him.

A note left by distraught Emily Levy to 'angry goose'. Credit: SWNS

One distraught child even wrote a letter to "angry Goose" asking him to "please come back some day".

In a note left at the scene, little Emily Levy added: "I love you to bits. I'm sorry you died."

Goose has since been buried by the pond in the village but may be exhumed so a post-mortem can be carried out.

Hertfordshire Police said if it could be proved the bird had been shot they would make the decision whether to investigate further.