A seagull is at the centre of a police investigation after a man was seen "pulling" the bird with a dog lead.

Lancashire Police were called to reports the gull was being pulled with a rope around its neck on a pavement near Bispham, Blackpool on Monday.

The bird was later taken to a local vet where the decision was taken to put it down.

Photographs and video of the gull being dragged across a pedestrian crossing began circulating on social media.

Police said no arrests had been made in relation to allegations of animal cruelty but the matter remained under investigation.

A man in his 50s was held for being drunk and disorderly but he has since been de-arrested.

Seagulls are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is illegal to intentionally injure or kill them.

Causing unnecessary suffering to birds can also be considered a criminal offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Brambles Wildlife Rescue, which covers Blackpool, described the incident as "vile".

The charity said: "A passer-by secured the gull off him, it was taken to a vet and was sadly put to sleep. We would add that it did look severely unwell and we cannot know if it could have recovered."

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "We were called at about 8pm on Monday (April 10) to a report of a man pulling a live seagull along the pavement with a rope around its neck on Bispham Road.

"Officers attended and the man, in his 50s, was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and though subsequently de-arrested, the matter is still being investigated.

"The bird was taken by a member of the public to a local vet where they decided it sadly had to be put down."