A MISSING duck has prompted renewed fears of more animal cruelty at Worcestershire County Council's Spetchley headquarters.

A mother duck went missing over last weekend, leaving her week-old ducklings to fend for themselves, and resulting in two of them dying.

Peter Owen, custodian of the Worcestershire Countryside Centre, who is responsible for the wildlife in the area, said he was contacted after members of the public saw the dead bodies of the two ducklings over the weekend.

"People were very distressed by witnessing this," he said. "We've been unable to find the carcase of the mother, but in any case like this, especially when you consider what has happened recently, there's a fear that someone could have killed it."

Young hooligans are thought to be behind the horrific deaths of four ducks over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

Two ducks had been shot, one had been strangled and another one trampled to death in a weekend of wanton violence.

Two months earlier, two other ducks had their skulls smashed by branches.

The public outcry led to volunteers taking it in turns to police the area.

"Unfortunately no matter how hard we try, it is difficult to keep an eye on what is happening all the time," Mr Owen added.

He said a young cygnet also needed RSPCA treatment after being caught up in fishing line over the weekend.

"We want people to know they can't fish here," said Mr Owen. "It's really irresponsible leaving fishing line floating on the pond."

The police are still investigating the deaths of the ducks over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

Nobody has yet to be charged with the acts of cruelty.