A REWARD has been offered after a buzzard was found with serious injuries in East Yorkshire.

Humberside Police and the RSPB said the buzzard was found in the Sledmere Estate, near Driffield, on January 21, and was believed to have been hurt using an illegal spring trap.

It was missing one of its feet and had suffered broken tail feathers, and its injuries were so severe it had to be put down by vets.

The RSPB has offered a £1,000 reward to anyone with information that could lead to a conviction relating to the incident.

Bob Elliot, head of RSPB investigations stated: "Setting spring traps in the open is a criminal practice, which harms birds of prey in the most horrible way.

"These devices are the raptor equivalent of a land mine – deadly and indiscriminate. I would urge anyone with information about this incident to contact the police immediately."

Anyone with information should phone Humberside Police on 101 or contact the RSPB confidentially on 0845 4663636.