London’s Metropolitan Police have issued an appeal for information after three foxes were shot with a crossbow in Greenwich.

Two were found dead and another is reported to have been seen with a “bolt or arrow” sticking out of its back in the same location.

The Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit was contacted on Thursday after a member of the public saw an injured fox in Parkgate, near Blackheath.

Volunteers from charity the Fox Project were called to the scene and treated the animal, but couldn’t save it.

Conchi Gago, from the Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit, said: “It’s absolutely shocking that two animals have died in such awful circumstances.

“It is obvious that whoever did this did so deliberately and it is disturbing to think that someone would intend to injure and kill a wild animal.”

The Fox Project is offering a £2,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of whoever is responsible for the attacks. 

The charity’s founder, Trevor Williams, said: “Every year we treat more than 1,000 foxes at our specialist rescue centre but this is a truly shocking case.

“It’s hard to understand that there is a small minority of people in society who are capable of such extreme cruelty to animals.”

Under section 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, using a bow or crossbow to kill an animal is illegal and you can be prosecuted for it.