A FAMILY pet suffered a terrible death after becoming trapped in an illegal snare at a beauty spot.

The RSPCA was called after the body of a cat was discovered caught in the snare on the Carterway Heads side of the Derwent Reservoir, near Consett.

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: "It had been caught by its back legs in a self-locking snare and by the look of the injuries it sustained, it had fought for a long while to free itself.

"The snare had been set on top of a wall, which is against all guidelines for setting snares.

"The dead cat was a domestic, short-haired tabby. It wasn't a feral cat, which means somebody, somewhere, has lost their pet."

Snares are used mainly by gamekeepers to kill pest species.

It is a criminal offence to set a self-locking snare, because their tightening action can lead to crushing and mutilation before death.

It is also illegal to set a snare to catch or kill a domestic animal.

RSPCA inspector Sue Craig, who attended the incident last Monday, is appealing for help from the public in catching the people who set the trap.

She said: "Whoever set this snare has broken the law. They have set an illegal self-locking snare and they have caught a family pet, leaving it to die in agony.

"I would urge anyone who has any information as to who set this snare, to contact the RSPCA immediately."

Anyone with any information should contact the charity 08705 555999.