����ý

Warning, this article contains distressing details.

Two kittens have died after their necks were broken and their skulls damaged, an animal welfare charity has said.

The RSPCA said the animals were found dead with injuries “consistent with being thrown against a wall” in Seven Stars Road in Leyland, Lancashire on Tuesday morning.

A vet said he believed the injuries had been caused deliberately.

The RSPCA appealed for local residents to check any footage for suspicious behaviour and contact them with any information.

The kittens' eyes were missing and their bodies were covered in blood, it added.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Adam Wormwell said: "It seems someone has deliberately ended the lives of these two young kittens by inflicting the most appalling violence on them."

The sex of both of the kittens, who were about six months old, is unknown.

One of them was black and one was brown.

Mr Wormwell added: “Unfortunately neither kitten was microchipped, so we don’t know who they belonged to or where they might have come from.

“It’s a horrific incident which has greatly upset everyone involved, and I’d particularly like to thank the kind member of the public who found them and took what action they could.”

Listen to the best of ����ý Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow ����ý Lancashire on , and . You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk, external