The RSPCA today warned it could prosecute a Bradford City fan who released two bantams on to the pitch during Saturday's FA Cup tie against Newcastle at St James' Park.

The terrified birds had to be rescued from the pitch when the match ended having spent most of the second half cowering in front of deafening crowd of nearly 37,000 people.

But one of them was injured during the game when Newcastle winger Stephen Glass accidentally trod on it as he tried to take a corner.

The birds - which represent Bradford City's nickname - were taken to the game in a black plastic bag by the unidentified man.

They were rescued by Bradford City fan Carole Hunt, 24, who brought them back to the RSPCA's animal home in Mount Street, Bradford, where they are recovering from their ordeal.

She said she was disgusted with the cruel behaviour of man who released them.

"It was pathetic, he let them out and then he walked off. I couldn't enjoy the second half because I was worrying about the birds.

"They couldn't fly and they were cowering trying to keep out of the way."

After the match, Carole, of Brittania Terrace, Cleckheaton, was able to put the birds into a cardboard box and she took them back to Bradford in her car.

RSPCA inspector David Holgate confirmed today that the birds were recovering at the centre.

And he too condemned the actions of the man who abandoned them and warned he could be prosecuted.

He said: "If we find out who the man was we'll want to interview him.

"It's an offence to keep birds in a bag and also to abandon them like that.

"I hope this doesn't become a trend, we wouldn't want to see it at the Bradford Bulls."

Bradford City chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "Clearly the club doesn't condone this sort of behaviour.

"Cruelty to animals, because that's in fact what we are talking about, is something all of our fans would find abhorrent.

"Any fan caught doing something like this at Valley Parade would be ejected from the ground but we are talking about something that has never happened at the club before."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.