A DISTRESSED Cinderford resident has contacted the Review after discovering one of the Forest’s most unusual animals decapitated on Tuesday (February 21).

Daphne Woodward from Office Road in Cinderford said that she found the headless white buck or stag with all four legs in the air on Northern Road just down from Nailbridge on the way to Coleford.

She said: “I think they’ve taken the head as a trophy as the cut was far enough down on the neck to mount. This is the second time someone has targeted a white stag like this and I think this one was one of the young males. It was rumoured that the head of the last one killed like this was still in a freezer as the person responsible couldn’t get rid of it.

“We heard gun shots in that direction a couple of nights ago from our home and now we’re wondering if we heard this poor animal being shot. It’s an absolutely despicable act.”

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police added: “If you make a discovery like this, you should report it to the police calling 101. If you see a crime like this being committed, please dial 999.”