AIRGUN-carrying hooligans slaughtered a hand-tame goose and used a mute swan for target practice in a senseless weekend attack.

Wildlife lovers were horrified to find the lifeless body of a Canada Goose floating on the "Lucky Hollow" pond on the fringe of Leigh town centre.

Horror soon turned to anger when an injured mute swan was seen struggling alongside its mate in what had been a peaceful haven in a field alongside Orchard Lane.

It had been shot through the neck at close range, miraculously still alive but painfully maimed. Both the swan and its mate were in an obvious state of distress.

"What sadistic, callous mindless oaf did this. I wonder what sort of parents have failed to instil a love of nature and wildlife in this horrible person," said an upset nature lover who lives nearby.

"These birds give lots of pleasure to lots of people who hand-feed them every day.

"Surely it is no challenge to shoot nearly tame and beautiful creatures.

"Is it not hard enough for these birds to find a breeding place with land fast disappearing under housing development?

"We are all God's creatures and have to share this earth. What a selfish world we live in. I am upset and disgusted."

Countryside wardens removed the body of the dead goose.

Pennington Flash warden Peter Alker highlighted recent shootings:"We've had some problems with gangs of kids with airguns. Two weeks ago a sparrowhawk was shot and on Sunday a Redwing (a type of thrush) was killed.

"Unfortunately misuse of airguns nearly always takes place in public access areas. It is not just vandalism to wildlife - guns are potentially lethal to people.

"There was an incident on Boxing Day when a woman was hospitalised after being hit by a pellet ricochet alongside the canal bordering the Country Park."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.