Police hunt after cat strapped to fireworks dies from horrific injuries in Derbyshire

Police are appealing for members of the public to get in touch with information about the incident

The passer-by found the cat on Thorndike Avenue in Alvaston, Derby (Google Maps)

A cat has died after being strapped to two rocket fireworks which were then lit and exploded, reportedly leaving it horrifically disfigured.

The animal was found still alive, but reportedly with no fur and missing one of its legs, by a member of the public in Alvaston, Derby, on Saturday, who called an emergency vet.

Police said the vet picked the animal up but was unable to save its life and are now appealing for help to catch whoever was responsible.

Sam Copeland-Whelan told ITV News her brother had found the cat and had called her to warn her about the incident, urging her to keep her own cats safe.

“It had two firework rockets attached to it. All of its fur was no longer on it and one of its legs had been ripped off. The fireworks had gone off,” she said.

Ms Copeland-Whelan said she would be keeping her six cats indoors until Bonfire Night had ended.

Elsewhere in Derby a couple were left temporarily homeless when a firework hit the roof of her house, setting it on fire.

Wendy Bagshaw, from Littleover, told the BBC the firework sounded like “an Exocet missile” when it hit her home, and caused her husband to have an angina attack.

"I've lost everything that I've worked for 40 years for, and it's just so stupid that people don't realise what they're doing,” she said.