A PET cat had to be put down after its leg was shattered by two pellets fired from an air pistol.

And the heartbroken owner of 14-year-old Peppa wants other pet lowners in Bury to be on their guard for fear of the same gunman striking again.

Peppa was targeted last Thursday on the street. Her owner, 50-year-old Mr Brian Deas, of Prestbury Close, said: "She was shot sometime between Thursday dinner time and evening. Around 10pm, a neighbour took in the cat after realising she was obviously in some kind of distress."

The worried neighbour telephoned the RSPCA who took the injured animal to a veterinary surgery in Eccles.

Mr Deas added: "The RSPCA told me Peppa had been shot twice in her front left leg and because of her age they were unable to pin it. They said it was either a case of having her leg amputated, which wouldn't have been fair at her age, or to have her put down. It was a terrible decision to make.

"Now, I want other pet lovers in my area, particularly older people who have cats, to be aware of what happened. I just can't believe that something like that could happen to my cat.

"It's crazy. I took her in as a stray nine years ago. When she was shot, it was the first time she'd been at the vet's."

He has reported the shooting to police who are investigating.