TOWN council workers fear a handful of dead birds dumped at a Petersfield beauty spot may have been shot with an airgun.

Litter pickers have found dead pheasants and ducks in bins around the Heath over the last month.

They have reported the deaths to the RSPCA and the police, as they are sceptical that the recent cold weather was to blame.

Peter Jones, contracts manager at Petersfield Town Council, which employs the litter pickers, said the discoveries were quite unusual.

He said it was possible that the creatures had been shot but couldn't confirm without examining them for himself.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.