A pet duck belonging to the mayor of Worcester has been beheaded in what he believes is a deliberate attack because of his views on a controversial relief road.
Coun Aubrey Tarbuck had received threatening letters weeks before his one-eyed drake Henry went missing on New Year's Eve.
Earlier this week his neighbour discovered the headless bird buried in her garden.
The conservative councillor for St Peter's, who had put up a #100 reward for the return of the duck when it went missing, believes it had been stolen by people who objected to his views on a new relief road for Worcester.
Although he has not reported the incident to the police, Coun Tarbuck said he had received a number of anonymous threatening letters before the went missing.
He said: "There was a report into a western orbital around Worcester to relieve congestion which said if there was a relief road the traffic problem would be just a little worse than when the children are on school holidays and it is essential that the road is built and I said of course we have to get it done. I have always said that and obviously a few people are opposed to it."
Coun Tarbuck said his neighbour found Henry buried in her garden at Hallow Road on Tuesday night while he was at a council meeting.
He went to identify the body the next day and recognised the headless bird as Henry by his deformed feet.
"In my mind someone stole him and cut his head off deliberately. I feel absolutely awful and sickened about the whole thing," he said.
Henry had a short but eventful life. His mother abandoned the egg and Coun Tarbuck incubated it until he hatched out in May.
In September the bird lost an eye after being attacked by a weasel.
Coun Tarbuck is still offering #100 reward to anyone with information about Henry's death.
