Police are appealing for witnesses after a cat was killed after allegedly having two fireworks strapped to it, that were then set off.

Sam Copeland-Whelan said she was heartbroken when her brother called her to tell her he had found the cat, still alive, in Thorndike Avenue in Derby on Saturday afternoon.

Sam's brother called her to warn her to keep her cats safe. It's not known who the dead cat belonged to.

He also called an emergency vet, but the cat had died by the time they arrived shortly afterwards.

This is horrific, it's upset me so much. My brother told me straight away and then phoned one of our local vets who came straight to the scene. He said when he came across it the cat was still alive, although it was in a very bad way. It had been tortured. It had two firework rockets attached to it. All of its fur was no longer on it and one of its legs had been ripped off. The fireworks had gone off. Sam Copeland-Whelan

A spokesman for Derbyshire Police said they are appealing for members of the public to get in touch with them.