A champion pigeon fancier believes a malicious competitor is responsible for breaking into his coup and wringing the necks of his seven most prized birds.

John McEvoy, 46, pictured, was away on business in Belfast when he was told of the raid outside his home in Garth Land Way, Bradford.

On his return he found five hens and two cocks lying dead on the floor of the coup which was home to 20 racing pigeons.

Among the dead birds was Number 73, the son of the renowned Halo Cock, who is famed across Yorkshire for breeding winners.

The choice of birds killed and the manner in which they were strangled has led Mr McEvoy to suspect another pigeon racer was responsible.

He has now put up a £200 reward for information leading to the conviction of the culprit, who struck between 1.30pm and 5pm last Thursday.

Mr McEvoy, a business development manager, said: "I am absolutely gutted. I feel like packing in the sport for good but that would be letting them win.

"I haven't been successful this year but these pigeons were breeding wonders and I believe somebody wanted them off the scene.

"It is a malicious act of violence. They knew exactly what they were doing."

Mr McEvoy, who also breeds Japanese Akita dogs at his home, has finished among the top four racers in the Dewsbury Federation for the last 20 years.

His biggest success came in 1984 when he took the prestigious Dewsbury Federation Essex Race.

There are believed to be about 250 pigeon fanciers based across the Bradford district.

It is the second time that pigeons have died during suspicious incidents at his aviaries.

Five years ago 50 pigeons he shared with the late Ian Schofield were destroyed during a fire at a coup on Broadstone Way.

Mr McEvoy said: "It is well-known within the sport that this type of thing goes on.

"To be successful in pigeon racing you have got to spend a lot of money on buying good birds.

"People are very competitive and can get very jealous. But it is sickening that people can sink this low."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the incident was being investigated.