A LUDLOW based national charity is drawing attention to a terrible case of cruelty.

On June 29 in Thornhill Road, Castleford, West Yorkshire, two boys kicked a baby hedgehog and a girl poured water over it.

The hoglet was rushed to a rescue centre by a horrified member of the public but sadly its injuries were too great, and it died.

Fay Vass, Chief Executive of The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, based in Ludlow, has called for action to be taken.

“This is a cowardly and sickening act,” she said.

“The pain and fear the poor hedgehog must have gone through is heart breaking.

“We thank Castleford Hedgehog Rescue for all their efforts to save this little one and the Police for acting so quickly, we urge anyone with information about the attack to report it immediately.”

A reward of £1,000 is being offered for anyone who can provide information that leads to a successful prosecution.

Hedgehogs have been voted the UK’s favourite mammal, but numbers are in decline, a third have been lost from urban areas and half from rural areas since the year 2000.

Much of this is due to the loss of hedges and traditional habitat.