WEEKLY reports of youths using air weapons to shoot at wildlife living around a Redditch beauty spot have prompted an RSPCA inspector to patrol the area daily.

Insp Simon Dix said there was a real problem around Arrow Valley Lake with pellet guns being used to shoot birds such as ducks and geese.

And he has called for people to be vigilant and report, in the first instance, anyone they see using an air weapon to the police.

He said: "There is still very much a problem down there, particularly in the area between the lake and the golf course on Dagnell End Road.

"It's just yobbish behaviour. Some of the birds have been killed and some have been hurt. But these yobs don't care."

Insp Dix said he was having reports from people every week and he had started patrolling the area every day in an attempt to catch the culprits, who will be prosecuted.

He said: "I need people to be aware of the problem and to report anything they see. We need names and descriptions, otherwise we can't do anything. And we need people to be prepared to go to court, which can be a difficult thing to do."

The RSPCA is now in the process of campaigning to get more legislation against air weapons.