The RSPCA has pledged to investigate after a fishing-mad teenager found mutilated wildlife scattered around a pond.

Thirteen-year-old Grant Archer was so incensed when he found mutilated fish and a decapitated duck at Pilley's Dam, near his home in Greengates, Bradford, that he rolled up his sleeves and started to clean up the area.

His mum Louise Harpley is furious at louts who have been attacking wildlife and dumping rubbish at the beauty spot for months.

Mrs Harpley called the RSPCA, which is now investigating and intends to step up its presence in the area.

Grant, who has been fishing since he was seven, had been put off going to Pilley's Dam after seeing thugs shooting carp with air rifles last year.

When he returned there earlier this week, after overcoming his reservations, he found the remains of a decapitated duck and mutilated fish near a carp pond.

Grant, a pupil at Immanuel School, set about picking up rubbish and sprucing up the area.

"He wanted to tidy it up," said Mrs Harpley. "But he got shouted at and told to go away by a fisherman, and that upset him.

"There's a lot of kids who hang about there in gangs, and it's them that cause all this trouble.

"He's really upset because there are dead fish thrown in the bushes and they have mutilated them. The thing that really gets me upset is that they had set fire to the dead duck. The duck had its head missing and there was a little fire beside it."

Heather Holmes, of the RSPCA, said: "We will be looking into this. We will take a look down there and if there are any children or people there we will talk to them about it and try to find out who is responsible."

The charity would not hesitate to prosecute. "There are penalties for anyone who is found guilty," she said. "They could be fined up to £5,000 and be given a six-month prison sentence.

"These people need to think about what they are doing."

e-mail: rebecca.wright@bradford.newsquest.co.uk