A devastated family are calling for justice after their beloved pet peacock was brutally killed by an 'evil' gang of catapult-wielding youths.

Disturbing CCTV footage shows a group of youths as young as ten firing objects at the rescued peacock, called River, which was sitting in a tree in Boughton Monchelsea, Kent.

The injured bird is later seen falling to the ground before the sick youths are seen holding it aloft like a trophy, ripping its feathers out and hiding its body.

River's heartbroken owners Alison Carter and daughter Macey Michael-Carter, said their pet was 'one of the family'.

The family, who have five other peacocks, are now demanding the youths are caught and punished for killing their pet - after being ominously threatened by one of the gang who said, 'You'll be next'.

Alison and Macey were just about to go on holiday earlier this month when they were told River had been targeted.

CCTV from a neighbour's camera shows a group of five boys and one girl, three armed with slingshots, taking turns at shooting River, who was perched in a tree.

Three boys are seen aiming and firing at the helpless bird 20 times from the road before climbing over the fence onto the roof of a private property to fire at the animal again.

The footage then captures the bright-feathered bird falling out of the tree, flapping in distress and cowering in a corner.

Three of the gang continue to fire at the bird after climbing onto the roof of a private property before two make their way onto the woodyard grounds.

One of the boys is then seen holding the peacock by its wings like a trophy, before another rips out some of its feathers.

Before fleeing the property, one of the gang picks up the peacock and is seen trying to hide it in a corner behind some wood.

"I was devastated and I still am," 57-year-old Alison said. "

"He is part of the family, he played and walked around with our dog Ziggy."

"He was like a dog he would follow you around, he would come into the kitchen, he would have trusted them."

"He would come into the house in the morning for his breakfast."

"Not only did they kill him in such an awful and heartless manner, they also kept a trophy of his feathers. "

"It's unbelievable."

The family rescued River five-and-a-half years ago after he was kept in a small box without sunlight and found 'featherless and frightened'.

After building up his trust they say River became tame, friendly and 'happy for his freedom'.

The family have reported the incident to police and also gave names of some of those believed to be responsible for the attack, which were given to them after sharing snapshots of the CCTV footage on Facebook.

However, after sharing the footage online, Alison claims her 17-year-old daughter was threatened by one of the young suspects who is said to have told her: "Your peacock is 6ft under and you are going to be next."

In another recent message to the family, someone threatened to 'smash your windows in'.

As a result, 23-year-old Macey says the family no longer feel safe to let their animals roam free in the local area, and have stopped their five other peacocks doing so for fear of similar attacks.

The family also say that the day after River was killed someone had fired a catapult at one of their dogs, drawing blood.

On the impact of losing River, Macey said: "It would be upsetting if he died on his own terms, but it was the fact he was brutally killed that makes it even worse."

"He would come up to you and feed out of your hand, he was so tame and friendly – it was an evil act that didn't need to happen at all."

"Everyone knew him in the community - he was a really big character," mum Alison added."

"He's not just a bird, he's part of the family."

The family now hope police will do something to prevent this type of crime in the future, branding catapults as 'deadly weapons'.

Macey and Alison added that the shocking news of River's death made it impossible to enjoy their holiday, which they cut short even though they were 'dreading going home'.

"I think the police need to do something because these people need to be punished, something needs to be done now," Alison said."

Alison added that she's been told that one of the gang involved in killing River is just ten years old.

Kent Police have been contacted.