A devastated family are calling for justice after their beloved pet peacock was brutally killed by an 'evil' gang of catapult-wielding youths.

Disturbing CCTV footage shows a group of youths as young as ten firing objects at the rescued peacock, called River, which was sitting in a tree in Boughton Monchelsea, Kent.

The injured bird is later seen falling to the ground before the sick youths are seen holding it aloft like a trophy, ripping its feathers out and hiding its body.

River's heartbroken owners Alison Carter and daughter Macey Michael-Carter, said their pet was 'one of the family'.

The family, who have five other peacocks, are now demanding the youths are caught and punished for killing their pet - after being ominously threatened by one of the gang who said, 'You'll be next'.

Alison and Macey were just about to go on holiday earlier this month when they were told River had been targeted.

CCTV from a neighbour’s camera shows a group of five boys and one girl, three armed with slingshots, taking turns at shooting River, who was perched in a tree.

Three boys are seen aiming and firing at the helpless bird 20 times from the road before climbing over the fence onto the roof of a private property to fire at the animal again.

The footage then captures the bright-feathered bird falling out of the tree, flapping in distress and cowering in a corner.

Three of the gang continue to fire at the bird after climbing onto the roof of a private property before two make their way onto the woodyard grounds.

One of the boys is then seen holding the peacock by its wings like a trophy, before another rips out some of its feathers.

Before fleeing the property, one of the gang picks up the peacock and is seen trying to hide it in a corner behind some wood.

"I was devastated and I still am," 57-year-old Alison said.

"He is part of the family, he played and walked around with our dog Ziggy.

“He was like a dog he would follow you around, he would come into the kitchen, he would have trusted them.

"He would come into the house in the morning for his breakfast.

"Not only did they kill him in such an awful and heartless manner, they also kept a trophy of his feathers.

"It's unbelievable."

The family rescued River five-and-a-half years ago after he was kept in a small box without sunlight and found 'featherless and frightened'.

After building up his trust they say River became tame, friendly and 'happy for his freedom'.

The family have reported the incident to police and also gave names of some of those believed to be responsible for the attack, which were given to them after sharing snapshots of the CCTV footage on Facebook.

However, after sharing the footage online, Alison claims her 17-year-old daughter was threatened by one of the young suspects who is said to have told her: "Your peacock is 6ft under and you are going to be next."

In another recent message to the family, someone threatened to 'smash your windows in'.