A PET cat is the latest victim in a string of catapult attacks in Verwood.

Bella returned to her home on Monday evening with an injured shoulder.

And when her owner took her to the vet the following day, surgery was performed and a pellet removed.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "We received a report at 4.05pm on Tuesday March 2 from a cat owner in Holly Grove in Verwood who reported that their pet had returned home on Monday with an injured shoulder.

Catapult attacks on properties and vehicles in Verwood

"The vet removed a small pellet from the shoulder, which is believed to have come from a slingshot or similar device. The cat is expected to make a full recovery."

the incident is the latest in a series of attacks which have left residents in the town "angry, frustrated and scared."

East Dorset Police first appealed for witnesses in mid-February after a number of vehicles and properties were targeted.

In a post on Facebook, a spokesman for the Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "We have posted several times requesting information of persons using catapults and projectiles to damage vehicles and properties in the local community.

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"We have had more reports in the last three to four days. Victims of these crimes are local persons and local businesses. They have to pay for the damage to be rectified themselves as the cost most of the time is below any insurance excess limit."

The spokesman said many victims are left feeling "angry, frustrated or even scared as a result of these incidents."

Anyone with information about the latest incident or those last month is asked to contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55210034774, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.