A BOLTON businessman has condemned the yob who blasted his pet ducks to death in a public park.

David Mellelieu, aged 21, used to keep his eight ducks at home, but set them free in Ashton Park, Darwen, three months ago, when he moved from Pendleton to Bromley Cross.

Within weeks of them being released, however, a man was seen shooting the ducks with an air pistol at about 9.45am on Friday.

Mr Mellelieu said: “The first I heard about it was in the paper.

“Passers-by saw him shooting at the ducks and have given a description to police.

“I’m absolutely devastated. I brought the ducks up for two years. People don’t expect to walk into a park and see dead ducks.”

Mr Mellelieu, who owns a sandwich bar in Burnley, kept three Indian Runners and five black Aylesbury ducks, as well as other livestock, when he lived in Pendleton.

He released the animals at Ashton Park after speaking to the RSPCA.

Officers and the RSPCA attended the scene on Friday and discovered six ducks and a goose had been killed.

All three of Mr Mellelieu’s rare Indian Runners were shot dead.

He added: “I still cannot believe what has happened. I would appeal for the person who has done this to hand themselves in or anyone with information to call police.

“He could do it again to other animals. He cannot realise what effect this has on owners.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously