ANIMAL lovers are offering a reward in an bid to identify two ‘cowardly’ teenagers who allegedly kicked a gull until it was blind.

Bardsea Bird Sanctuary co-owner Elisabeth Ashleigh, Ian Wheddon from The Mobile Man and another individual are offering £120 for anyone who might have information regarding two teenagers who were seen 'kicking a gull like a football'.

It happened at around 8.30am on Monday in Lord Street, Barrow. The Mail readers gave their reactions to the horrendous incident.

Liza Brucciani: Awful story and so incredibly sad.

Leanne Williams: When you’ve a poorly animal or person in your arms and you try - and make the most comfortable as possible when they’re in their last hours - we do all we can and anyone that doesn’t understand that has no heart end of.

Tracy Silverton I find this incredibly distressing. So sad that poor bird. They only gather in populated areas due to the amount of crap we leave around.

Janet Richardson: So very sad. Hope you find whoever is responsible.

Mary Beth Roberti: Let’s find them! and when they do I volunteer to do exactly to them what they did to that poor bird.

Alison Stirzaker: I actually carried a fledgling gull that had fallen from my roof up my stairs and put it back out the sky light, yes they can be annoying, but so can people. You wouldn't beat up a person to a pulp that was annoying you, and if you would there must be something really wrong with you. Hurting animals is a known precursor to becoming a serial killer, very scary.

John Grainger: People who use the words flying rats are not helping the seagulls. I hate this terminology. I have similar words for some people.

Janice M Laurie: I just hope they get theses sick yobs. I hope it was caught on CCTV, People who laugh at this are totally sick to people, who do this need it kicking. Balling crying here because I love any animal. I looked after four baby gulls, which had fallen out of their nests until they could fly.

Graham Wilson: I pity the 'special' people who have been dragged up to think hurting an animal is acceptable! Whether you like seagulls or not, it isn’t the issue. I’d even agree they do have horrible natures as birds, but to resort to wanton cruelty like this is nothing short of barbaric and completely unacceptable.

Ian Mcskimmings: I think animal cruelty is so wrong in many ways. Why don't we all just commit suicide and rid the animals of the cancer that's called human beings? They might survive.