April 30, 1976

OVER 50 valuable racing pigeons had their wings savagely hacked off before being left to their flightless fate by a busy Redditch road.

Before the RSPCA and local people could rescue them, over 14 were killed by cars and cats as they waddled around, hardly able to walk, let alone fly.

If the owners cannot be traced, the fanciers from the White Hart Invitation Flying Club will have to destroy the expensive-to-keep birds.

House-to-house inquiries have already been done along Bromsgrove Road. The pigeons were found between Cherry Tree Walk and Poplar Road.

Mick Hicks, White Hart president, has already located five owners and is making arrangements to return the birds to places as far away as Winchester and Bristol.

Mr Hicks said: "Whoever did it must be sadistic. This must be the worst case of its kind in the country."