Owl and pigeon shot with air gun and dumped in bin

Image caption, A tawny owl and wood pigeon were found in a bin in March

A man has been charged with animal cruelty offences after two wild birds were found shot dead and dumped in a wheelie bin.

The tawny owl and wood pigeon were found in Colne, Lancashire, by officers with the Ribble Valley Rural Taskforce in March.

They had been shot with an air gun, Lancashire Police said.

A man from Colne has been charged with killing a wild bird, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and possessing an air weapon in a public place.

The 28-year-old is due before magistrates in Blackburn next month.

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