A CAT was strangled and another swung around by its tail in sickening attacks carried out by a gang of children, including some possibly as young as eight.

Police are investigating after the three cats, including one which was set upon by a lurcher dog, were killed in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Kerry Crewe, of the Avenues estate in Chester-le-Street, had let her cat, Pepsi, out of the house for ten minutes on Tuesday night, when a distraught elderly neighbour ran round to her house in tears, to tell her some youths had killed the pet.

The neighbour chased after the children, but was unable to catch them.

Mrs Crewe said: "My neighbour said they were no older than eight or nine. That's quite scary if this is what they're doing at that age."

She said they were uncertain how the animal was killed by the gang, but witnesses had seen the children throwing the animal in the air.

"They had hold of her by the tail and were swinging her round," she said.

"I had been at the back door all the time she had been out, but I didn't hear her crying or anything, so I thought they might have killed her first.

"We waited for the police to come and then we buried her. I didn't look too closely at her because I was frightened about what I might find."

She said the pet's death had upset everyone, especially her four-year-old daughter, who has not been told how the cat met its death, and the family's neighbour, who frequently looked after the animal.

PC Steve Brown, from Chester-le-Street police, said the other killings took place about two weeks ago at Waldridge Park, Chester-le-Street, and Mendip Avenue on the town's Garden Farm Estate. He said:"We've got a good description from one incident and have CCTV footage of the person."

Anyone with information should contact PC Brown on 0191-388 4311.