FROGS ARE TORTURED BY AIRGUN KIDS POLICE are hunting four youths who killed more than 65 frogs and toads with an airgun during a shooting spree. The sick youngsters spent half an hour shooting the animals with airguns on the Hart to Haswell Walkway in Hartlepool. And not content with that, some of the youngsters - who were possibly from the Peterlee area - tied the amphibians rear legs together and set them on fire while they were still alive. More than 18 hours after the horrific incident some of the animals which had been shot were still alive and crawling around in agony on the walkway. Countryside wardens from Hartlepool Borough Council were called to the scene to remove the dead bodies and discovered 65 intact frogs and toads and a number of body parts including legs. The incident happened at the walkway entrance near to Hartville Road and Ocean Road near Hart Station. Hartville Road resident Clair Hughes, whose property overlooks the area, said that she saw the half-hour long episode taking place at around 4.30pm on Thursday, but did not realise what was happening. The 56-year-old said: "I saw some youths being dropped off in a car at around 2pm. "I heard them saying to someone who was driving the car that they would be ready to be picked up at 4.30. "There was four of them. The older one was about 16 and the the other three were quite young. "They would have been no more than 10 or 11-years-old. They had two airguns which were not in holdalls. "I told them that it was illegal for them to have an airgun in a public place without a holder. "They just turned around and said that they were going down the beach. I told them that they were not allowed there either but they just ignored me." Mrs Hughes, who regularly uses the walkway, said that when the four youngsters returned at 4.30pm the car which was meant to pick them up was not there and they started to fire their rifles to pass the time. "Only now does she realise that they were throwing frogs into the air and taking shots at them. She explained: "They were firing everywhere including the houses. I saw them throwing things up in the air and firing but I didn't know what they were doing. "I saw them using the lighter as well. I had no idea that they were burning the animals alive. If I had I would have come out." Mrs Hughes managed to take down the registration number of the Volkswagen Passatt and has now passed it on to Hartlepool police. The car has been traced to an address in the Peterlee area. The deaths have been roundly condemned by the police, countryside wardens and the RSPCA. Countryside warden Robert Smith, who was involved in recovering the bodies, said: "The cruelty that some people are prepared to inflict on wildlife never ceases to astound me. "There is no excuse for such behaviour regardless of the age of the people involved. I do not know how people can stoop so low. I would urge people living near to or visiting nature reserves to always be vigilant and to immediately report suspicious behaviour." Inspector Ian Jackson of the RSPCA said: "We are appalled by the senseless and callous attack on frogs and toads but unfortunately such air gun weapon attacks are becoming common place." The animal welfare charity recorded 900 attacks on animals nationally last year but believes that this is just the tip of the iceberg and that most injured animals find somewhere isolated to die. A spokeswoman for Cleveland police said: "We passed on the information to the local beat officer. He did an area search which was negative at that time. The registration number may belong to a registered vehicle in the Peterlee area." Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Countryside Warden team on (01429) 853325.