A CAT may have to have its leg amputated after it was shot with an air rifle in Beaconsfield.

Three school children were leaving their home on Stratton Road on June 9 when they found their pet lying in a pool of blood on the drive, police said.

Their mother rushed the cat to a vet who found a pellet lodged in its rear leg.

PCSO Vijay Desai said: “The family were devastated and there's some concern the cat might have to have its leg amputated.

“We've been doing door to door enquiries to try and find out how this happened – I hope it wasn't intentional.”

He said air rifles are legal so long as the owner had a licence and it is used on private property.

Marjorie Nash, who runs a cat rescue charity based in Widmer End, High Wycombe, said: "This is a dreadful story but sadly this is the nature of some people. I hope the police catch whoever did it.

"Cats and other animals have every right to be on this earth just like people do - to go around shooting them is barbaric."

Anybody with information is asked to call the police on 0845 8 505 505.