Residents in a small village have been expressing their shock and sadness after a popular goose was reportedly shot dead in a pond.
The bird was paddling along when a gunman in a 4x4 allegedly opened fire as the vehicle was driven through Sandon in Hertfordshire on Sunday afternoon.
The window of the passenger seat was wound down and then one of the two people inside is understood to have shot the creature in the head.
Residents then removed the bird, simply called 'Goose', from the pond before being buried.
Gay Ayton, who lives in the village, described the bird as a "character" which used to chaperone ducklings around the roads to keep them safe.
She told Sky News he was hand-reared by locals as a gosling, and she joked he thought he was a duck as he "used to stand in the middle of the road while ducklings crossed over".
She said he was popular in the village, despite becoming aggressive during mating season, where he was known to prevent people from putting letters in a postbox.
She added: "Everyone knew him, the kids loved him."
He also "kept the foxes away", she said.
Flowers and messages of tribute have been left in a disused phone box - next to the pond - where the bird used to sometimes go.
He even featured on the village's welcoming sign which was made to celebrate the new millennium.
Ms Ayton said there was shock, sadness and anger in Sandon, where people were "tearful" and "had lumps in their throats".
She said: "Why do people do mindless things".
Ms Ayton hoped the publicity would shame the perpetrators to hand themselves in but she "doubts they will own up".
She said police have now dug up the bird's body to establish the exact cause of death.
Hertfordshire Police said to Sky News: "We received a third-party report of the incident on Sunday afternoon at around 4.30pm
"The RSPCA are currently investigating the incident (as they are empowered to do so under the Countryside and Wildlife Act) but we are assisting them with this.
"At this stage we are unable to confirm how the goose died. We have no evidence to suggest it was shot, although there are rumours about this.
"We will be speaking with local residents to try and establish if there are any witnesses because at the moment we only have third-party reports.
"To confirm how the goose died we need to examine the body - the Royal Veterinary College would be used - and carry out a post mortem. Unfortunately, prior to officers attending the body had been removed and buried.
"We now have information suggesting where the goose is and this is currently being followed-up by officers.
"If the body is examined and it can be confirmed the bird was shot this would of course be investigated (again jointly by police and RSPCA).
"If a person is found responsible we'd look at interviewing them jointly with the RSPCA. The evidence would then be considered as to whether the RSPCA or police would prosecute."
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