A MOTORIST has been blasted for the ‘cold-blooded murder’ of a family of geese.

Wildlife charities and witnesses have blasted the driver of a yellow VW Golf, who was seen mowing down goslings near the Soccer Bar on Holker Street, Barrow.

Mike Cape witnessed the incident and described how the driver of the car slowed down to a halt as they approached the geese, and the moment they quickly sped up and drove into them.

He said: “I think this was such a heartless and cold thing for someone to do.

“They clearly recognised what was in the road otherwise they wouldn’t have slowed down.

“So to think they decided to go through the geese anyway, I don’t know what kind of person would do something like that.”

He said it was difficult to watch as the injured adult goose returned to the road and stood over its dead goslings.

Hundreds of members of the community have spoken out against the driver's actions.

A number of wildlife organisations have also voiced their disgust.

Elisabeth Ashleigh, co-owner of Bardsea Bird Sanctuary, said: “This is an act of cold-blooded murder and an awful disregard for wildlife.

“You would not do this to people, but some drivers think birds don’t matter and are a nuisance.

“Some people are horribly cruel.

“I honestly don’t know how they can sleep at night.”

She said it was not the first time something like this has happened.

“This has happened a few times," she said.

“Often traffic stops to let birds pass, then someone tries to overtake and hits the birds.”

David Harpley, conservation manager at Cumbria Wildlife Trust said: “If deliberate, this seems to be a wanton act of cruelty towards wildlife.

“I’d urge motorists to show patience and to respect wild birds when they encounter them.”

Cumbria Police and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have been notified.