A kitten needed emergency surgery to have his eye removed after it was shot with a pellet gun.

Owner Terry Scott rushed seven-month old pet Dillon to Millennium Veterinary Practice, in Millennium Way, Braintree, last Thursday.

But vets were forced to remove the eye after finding it was damaged beyond repair.

Vet Stefaan van Pouke said: “This has been a horrible act of violence and animal cruelty and we have urged Dillon’s owners to contact the police."

See today's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story