A WILDLIFE rescue organisation has offered a reward for information after cruel thugs tortured an owl at a children’s playground near Selby.

The tiny creature, of the Little Owl species, was found at Eversley Park in Low Street, Sherburn in Elmet, with blue cotton string tied tightly around its wing, cutting into the flesh, and the other end tied to a tree branch.

A woman visiting the playground with her child at about 1pm on Friday, saw a gang of youths, aged about 16, next to the tree, and confronted them before they left. She then had to hold up her child on her shoulders to help the bird down from the tree.

Annette Pyrah, from Selby Wildlife Rescue said the owl was now well enough to perch, but its recovery was not guaranteed as it was not eating.

She has offered £100 to anyone who can identify the offenders. Another £50 has been pledged by a visitor to the Selby Wildlife Rescue Facebook page.

Annette said: “If children are doing this sort of thing in the summer holidays, God knows what else they are going to do. They have tied the string around its wing so tight, loads of times, then tied it to a branch in a tree in a bow so nature hasn’t done that.

“I’ve phoned the police to get to the bottom of who has actually done this. They say if children torture animals as they grow up they can move on to torturing people. I’m upset and angry. It’s in shock at the moment, and really cold. It’s got a bad wound where the string cut into its flesh under the wing, so I don’t know what its chances are.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “This is a senseless and totally unnecessary act of cruelty against a defenceless young owl. We will be working with the RSPCA to try and identify the offenders and bring them to justice.”

Anyone with information about who is responsible for the offence should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.