A NEIGHBOUR has described her horror at hearing the 'blood-curdling screams' of what she believes was an animal being tortured within an overgrown den just feet from a children's play park.
The woman, who does not wish to be identified, heard the 'sickening screams' of what she believes was a dog being abused coming from within thick undergrowth in a copse near Turners Close in Worcester.
She says the incident happened on August 7 between 9pm and 10pm when a group of young adults entered the park. They were seen running into a den-like area concealed by bushes, she said, shortly followed by the screams which lasted three to four minutes.
Meanwhile, police have stepped up patrols in the area, responding to concerns raised by Cllr Jill Desayrah on behalf of residents.
The resident said she then heard the 'sickening screams of an animal being beaten/abused'. The incident has since been reported to both West Mercia Police and the RSPCA.
Fighting back tears, she said: "At the time I was in pieces. I love animals. It was just screams, blood-curdling screams. It was so piercing. This wasn't a yelp - it was screaming. It was horrible. That night I could not sleep."
The den is in thick undergrowth right next to a children's play park where she says people have sex and take drugs.
"I don't care what they do with themselves in there but you must not hurt the animals," she said.
She explained that she did not want the copse removed but wondered if CCTV might deter such criminal activities and make the area safer.
The resident says she later found a stick with bite marks at both ends.
Cllr Jill Desayrah has also raised concerns about the incident. The Warndon city councillor said: "Part of the horror of this situation is where it was - right next to a children's play park - the only children's play park in Warndon."
The Worcester News understands three people - two men and a woman - were seen entering the copse and that the incident lasted 'three to four minutes'.
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Cllr Desayrah added: "It's horrendous because of where it was. It was at night time so it was fortunate no children were around to hear this.
"For a nation of animal lovers, when you hear of these sorts of rare incidents it does make you go cold. I was shocked and horrified by what the person had heard."
She said she hoped more witnesses may be able to come forward to provide more information about what happened, reporting it either to West Mercia Police or the RSPCA.
She says she is now exploring potential solutions with Worcester City Council officers but nothing concrete has yet been agreed.
PC Allan Figueiredo, Safer Neighbourhood officer for Gorse Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team, said he has spoken with Cllr Jill Desayrah at the Warndon police post about the issue.
He said: "She informed us that she’d been told about this by some residents. We have not received any calls from the public about this though. We will still be patrolling the park area."
The RSPCA was approached for a comment.
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