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A seagull had to be put down after it was "thrown and kicked" in an attack, an animal welfare charity has said.

The incident took place near Swansea’s Castle Square, on Oxford Street, at about 18:00 BST on Saturday, the RSPCA said.

The gull was reportedly grabbed by its wing, thrown to the floor and kicked.

“This upsetting incident took place in a public place and would have been a very distressing incident to witness,” said RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben.

“Sadly, many people have an unfavourable opinion of gulls - but these are intelligent animals who form strong social bonds with each other, and deserve to be treated with respect,” he added.

The gull appeared to have a broken wing after the incident and was eventually put down “due to the severity of its injuries”, the RSPCA said.

The charity appealed for information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

Gull numbers are in decline, and herring gulls – the species most commonly identified as a seagull – have been on a protected list since 2009.

Like all wild birds in the UK, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.