CAT owners in a County Durham village are being urged to be vigilant after a family pet was shot in the head.

Tiger, an 18-year-old pet, had to be put to sleep after two airgun pellets were found in his head.

The much-loved cat was let out of the family home in Wolsingham at around 6pm on Tuesday.

But Tiger didn’t return as usual the following day and eventually dragged itself home on Thursday when he was found with blood on his face.

His owner took the animal to a vet, where it was found that Tiger had been shot twice with an airgun, causing significant injuries.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident and are urging other pet owners to be careful.

PC Emma Bartley said: “Tiger was shot twice before he dragged himself home and will no doubt have suffered before he was found by his owner.

“If anyone has any information about who did this we would urge them to get in touch with us.

“We would also like to alert other cat owners in the area of the need to be vigilant”,

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact PC Emma Bartley at Bishop Auckland Police station on the Durham Police non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number DHM-24082018-0193.