A WOMAN, who had been out celebrating a friend's birthday party, returned home to find her pet kittens slaughtered.

Kimberley Whitehead, 21, of Limbrick, Shear Brow, Blackburn, said she was sick when she made the grim discovery which she described as like "a scene from the horror film Pet Cemetery"

Kimberley, a voluntary youth worker for Blackburn with Darwen Council had been at her friend's 21st birthday party.

She said: "I returned home at about 3am with my boyfriend and I could smell this disgusting smell.

"The kittens' mother, Jasper came in and was wet through, she kept biting my leg, which she never does, and ran into the kitchen to lead me to the carnage.

"I noticed one of the kittens next to the back door, which was wide open.

"I thought it was odd that the kitten was next to the door and that the door was open because I kept them in a box behind chairs when I went out so that they couldn't escape.

"It was then that I realised what had happened, there was blood all over the walls where the person that did this had smeared the battered kittens across the wall in a cold blooded rage."

One of the kittens had its legs mutilated.

Three of the five kittens were dead. Another survived but was later put down after suffering broken ribs.

Only one of the kittens is still alive after hiding behind the fridge.

Kimberley said: "I was heartbroken when I saw what had happened but I do now fear for my safety because I live on my own most of the time and what makes it worse is that I don't know who has done this."

The intruder did not steal any item from the house.

Police are investigating the incident but have been unavailable for comment.

Kimberley's parents have been staying with her since the incident. Kimberley's mum, Charmaine Whitehead, of Hollins, Grove Street, Darwen, said: "What this person has done is inhumane and the way these beautiful little kittens were brutally killed will stay with us forever.

"When I think about how they suffered it makes me cringe and breaks my heart.

"It is hard for Kimberley as she lives alone and fears for what will happen next.

"We have tried to establish who would do such a thing but Kimberley doesn't have any enemies or doesn't know anybody who would be capable of this."