Police have interviewed a man and seized a weapon after a heron was shot dead from the sky.

Bosses of a wildlife conservation project previously claimed a poacher fired a shotgun at the protected species as it flew across Ramsgate.

It followed reports of vile shooters flocking to Little Cliffsend near Pegwell Bay and preying on animals.

No arrests have been made, but last night police confirmed they have spoken to a man about the killing of the grey heron in Chalk Hill on the morning of Saturday, October 16.

A spokesman said: "Officers have carried out a non-custodial interview with a man in relation to the incident and a weapon has been seized while enquiries continue."

The heron is protected at all times under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with fines or prison sentences dished out to anyone killing or attempting to kill one.

Following the incident, a spokesperson for Wildlife Conservation in Thanet told KentOnline: "Nature faces all sorts of threats - from habitat loss to a drop in food source.

"The added threat of unnecessary shooting like this is outrageous.

"The area where this heron was illegally shot neighbours the most valuable nature reserve in the whole county.

"So we are deeply concerned at this activity taking place here because we get some real rarities.

"We have had reports from this area in the past but this time it was fortunately caught on camera."

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet