A £1,000 reward has been offered to find barbaric duck killers in March. The organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are offering the money after a story in this week s Cambs Times told how at least three ducks were found shot dead in t

A £1,000 reward has been offered to find "barbaric" duck killers in March.

The organisation People for the Ethnic Treatment of Animals are offering the money after a story in this week's Cambs Times told how at least three ducks were found shot dead in the centre of the town.

The ducks were found with bullet wounds by the Old Nene River, off Elwyn Road.

One was on the pavement and two were discovered on the riverbank, early on Tuesday morning.

Police were told as many as eight ducks may have been killed overnight.

A spokesman for PETA said: "Animal abusers are cowards. They take their issues out on the most defenceless beings available to them.

"We are offering £1,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this barbaric crime.

"We also urge residents to keep a watchful eye on their animal companions and to keep them indoors.

"Those who tend towards violence view animals as the perfect "practice" victims as they cannot report their own abuse and can do little to fight back."

The spokesman added: "March residents have good reason to be concerned. History shows that past incidents involving cruelty to animals regularly appear in the backgrounds of murderers.

"Child-killers Mary Bell, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables as well as serial murderers Ian Huntley, Thomas Hamilton (Dunblane massacre), Fred West, Denis Nilsen, Ian Brady and Jeffrey Dahmer all started out by deliberately harming animals. "It has been reported that the stepfather of Baby P, the young boy who died from injuries allegedly inflicted by his abusive family, tortured guinea pigs and frogs."

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 or March Police Station on 0845 4564 564.

For more information about PETA, visit PETA.org.uk