Dogs found hanged from bridge

Two dogs were found hanged from a village bridge in a "barbaric" act of cruelty, the RSPCA said today.

The bodies of the dogs, described as "lurcher types" by the charity, were discovered by a woman motorist in Congerstone, Leicestershire, yesterday morning.

RSPCA inspector Sheona Morley said the animals' bodies were suspended from opposite ends of a single rope, which stretched over the road crossing the bridge, near Bosworth Road.

She said: "It must have been absolutely awful for the lady who discovered them. She was driving along the road but found her path blocked by the rope across the carriageway.

"When she got out to have a closer look she was disgusted to see the bodies of the dogs.

"There is absolutely no excuse to treat any animal in such a barbaric way."

The dogs, one male and one female, were aged between 12 and 18 months and were both wearing leather collars with no identification tags. The RSPCA said neither animal was microchipped.

It is not known whether the dogs were already dead when they were suspended from the bridge.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said the results of post mortem examinations were expected within a few days.

Anyone with any information about the incident is urged to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 or call Leicestershire Police.