Villagers were shocked to find dead pheasants left strewn on the street and on cars.

Residents of Yalding, near Maidstone, on their morning walks yesterday saw multiple carcasses of the game bird.

It is thought that poachers are responsible for the upsetting scenes.

Mandy Dunn spotted one of the pheasants on the windscreen of her car as she set out on a dog walk.

The 51-year-old said: “I already knew what had happened as people were posting it online but then I saw one on my car.

“I didn’t know what to do with it. As an animal lover, it was an unpleasant experience.

“Someone obviously thought it was a fun thing to do.”

Shocked, the bank worker left the dead pheasant and continued her dog walk before later returning with a black sack to remove the bird.

About four carcasses were spotted along the streets, with another lying out in the open in front of the Post Office. All were found with a puncture wound.

Others in the village had it reported to the police via the Rural Task Force WhatsApp group.

A reply, seen by KentOnline, said: “In my experience, this is poaching activity with the discarded birds serving no purpose to the offenders involved hence why they have just ‘thrown them away’.

“It is highly unlikely that these will have died as a result of anything other than criminal activity. The information has been noted by the team.”

KentOnline has asked police for more information.

Ms Dunn added: “It was definitely done with malice. It’s upsetting that it happened at all but when it’s on your car it’s worse.

“What I find most upsetting is they left them in a town, surrounded by country roads.”

The pheasants have since been removed.