Staff at Colchester General Hospital have been left shocked by an appalling attack by yobs who stamped to death two ducks which lived on the hospital grounds.

The birds, a male and female, were among a number of ducks resident at the Turner Road hospital, which has a man-made pond in its grounds.

They were discovered seriously injured by nurses going off-duty, who investigated after they spotted youths stamping on something.

A spokesman for Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust, which runs the hospital, said the staff chased the youngsters, who fled and took the birds to the porters lodge to call the RSPCA. But the ducks died from their injuries.

"Everybody is just absolutely appalled at what happened," he added. "We cannot believe anybody would do a thing like this and it is has left all of the staff who regularly look out for them shocked and upset," he said.

But he said every effort was made to try and look out for the birds, who give a great deal of pleasure to patients, visitors and staff.

Published Monday, March 25, 2002