Mallard duck shot with crossbow in Springfield Park

A mallard duck in Springfield Park was condemned to a painful death after being shot in the neck with a crossbow, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said today.

Park rangers tried to catch the bird but were unable to corner it, and the duck fled with the bolt still embedded in its neck.

An RSPB spokesperson said: “This is a criminal act that should be widely condemned.”