Animal airgun attacks on the rise in Cumbria

The number of airgun attacks in Cumbria reported to the RSPCA is on the rise, according to new figures from the charity.

In the past five years, there has been a total of 42 incidents in the county.

The RSPCA says the number of reports are set to reach a five-year high in the north of England.

It's calling for tougher regulations around the use of airguns, following the introduction of legislation in Scotland which means that anyone with an airgun must have a licence.

One case in Windermere was a heron who had been shot with an air gun.

RSPCA inspectors were called to rescue the water bird after he was found with a severely broken wing.

Vets x-rayed the bird and found he had been shot in his right wing with a metal air gun pellet.

The pellet had completely fractured the bird's right humerus and he was so severely injured vets felt the kindest option was to put him to sleep.

In the past five years, the highest number of the 4,828 airgun attacks reported across England were: