Animal welfare investigators are looking for whoever dumped just over 80 chicks in an isolated area of Tydd St Mary.

Sixty of the 81 chicks dumped in total were found dead off North Road, near the A1101 Wisbech Road, last Saturday, April 13.

The chicks were found by a member of the public before they were handed over to Justin Stubbs, an RSPCA inspector for Stamford, Bourne and the Deepings.

More than 100 chicks, including more than 80 in Tydd St Mary, were dumped in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.Photo supplied by RSPCA. (8904247)

He said: "Whoever dumped these birds had effectively left them to die as they had no access to nearby food or water, nor shelter from predators.

"Had the chicks which survived not been found, then sadly they would have perished as well.

"The chicks were found with nine joints of meat and sawdust and the member of the public who found them was fantastic, driving them over to our wildlife centre where they are currently being cared for.

RSPCA Inspector Justin Stubbs helped to rescue sheep stranded on a Welsh cliff earlier this month.

"As you can imagine, having to care for a large number of chicks and finding space for them can prove to be difficult.

"But we are grateful to a number of people who have come forward to offer homes to these birds."

RSPCA inspectors are linking the dumping to a similar case reported less than five miles further down the A1101, off Franks Lane, Newton, between Tydd St Mary and Wisbech, on Friday, March 29.

More than 100 chicks, including more than 80 in Tydd St Mary, were dumped in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.Photo supplied by RSPCA. (8904249)

In this case, 26 chicks were found dumped by members of the public whokept them safe and fed them before alerting the RSPCA on Monday, April 1.

Another RSPCA inspector, Deborah Pert, said: "It is very unusual to have such a large number of chicks abandoned and they were found in and around some old tyres near the location.

"The RSPCA is very grateful to the members of the public who found the chicks and kept them safe until they called us to collect them."

RSPCA inspector Deborah Pert.(8904909)

Investigators believe the two incidents are linked due to the similar ages of the birds dumped and the closeness of locations, just ten minutes' drive away from each other.

Inspector Stubbs said: "We would urge anyone who has any information as to where these chicks may have come from, or details regarding who may have left them, to contact the RSPCA inspectors' line, in confidence, on 0300 123 8018."

Members of the public found 26 chicks dumped off Franks Lane, Newton, on March 29.Photo supplied by RSPCA. (8904907)

Meanwhile, anyone interested in rehoming chicks from the RSPCA can find out more by going to https://www.rspca.org.uk/findapet/rehomeapet/process

Alternatively, you can see all the poultry looking for homes at https://www.rspca.org.uk/findapet