A WELL-known and much-loved goose has been shot in the head by mindless vandals.

The bird, nicknamed The Colonel, was lucky not to have been killed. It survived because the pellet deflected off its skull instead of fracturing it.

Following the goose's return to the pond in Hanley Swan, near Malvern, villagers told of their shock at what happened.

Cheryl Phelps, aged 46, said: "I go to the pond to feed the animals every morning. I have done so for at least six or seven years.

"When I first saw the Colonel I thought he had been hit on the head. I saw the dried blood.

"But he was conscious and walking around. I think people do this sort of thing to make themselves feel big. It's a power thing."

She added that there are reports of cats from the village also being shot at with pellet guns.

Geoffrey Tolley, aged 78, said he was furious with those responsible for shooting the Colonel.

He said: "They deserve a shotgun to the head - the same as what they did to the Colonel."

Mr Tolley added that the bird has been living at the pond for a number of years after the previous owner couldn't bring themselves to kill and eat him for Christmas dinner.

RSPCA inspectors took the Colonel to Vale Wildlife Rescue in Evesham last Thursday.

Martin Brookes, assistant manager of the centre, said: "The pellet was deflected off his skull and was under the skin above his eye.

"He was lucky that it didn't fracture his skull."

Mr Brookes said following an X-ray, the pellet was removed. One stitch was put in and the Colonel - who is a gander, a male goose - then spent the next few days on antibiotics before being taken back to the pond on Sunday.

If anyone has any information about the shooting, which happened between last Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, call the police on 08457 444888 quoting 456/S/200106.