A woman was horrified to find pigeons, doves and blackbirds lying dead under trees in Witham in a suspected poisoning attack.

In recent weeks, great-grandmother Teresa Dawson, 77, of Collingwood Road, made 14 grim discoveries under trees in her garden, in Newlands Drive car park and Holy Family Church yard off Guithavon Street.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said several dead birds or other animals close together could be victims of peticide poisoning and anybody who spots them should call the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme on 0800321600.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for more.