An animal lover has slammed a cruel group of yobs who left a hedgehog paralysed after kicking it "like a football".

Ray Allibone, who runs Swampy's Wildlife Rescue, rescued the injured creature from Minster.

A resident of The Broadway had seen the group of three or four teenage boys attacking it near the shops in Trafalgar Parade.

The witness shouted at them and then they ran off. Mr Allibone was called and then had to search for the beaten animal.

It was eventually found under a car in nearby Noreen Avenue, leading him to believe it must have dragged itself there on its two front legs, across the main road.

The hedgehog, which is an adult male, has paralysed back legs and is badly bruised - but it is not thought to have any permanent spine damage.

He said its prognosis is not clear and he does not know if it will recover, but it is hoped the paralysis is only temporary.

The 58-year-old said he is hopeful it might get better as he is getting some response from a small part of the legs.

The animal is feeding well and does not seem to have internal organ damage.

Mr Allibone is caring for the creature at his home in Diamond Court, Sheerness.

It is the second time in less than a year he has been called to help a hedgehog that had been injured by thugs.

The other was one that died after being kicked along Estuary Road, Sheerness, in July last year.

It had suffered numerous bruises, was paralysed from a broken spine and swollen by fluid that had built up around its smashed bones.

Mr Allibone said: "The Minster witness said these boys were using the hedgehog like a football and kicking it around.

"It makes me really angry, but I'm not surprised about it. There are some strange people about. I can't stand it."

The incident has not been reported to the police of the RSPCA as Mr Allibone felt it would not be easy to track the group down.

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