The severed head of a cat has been found in a children’s playground in a “truly horrifying” incident.

The RSPCA has launched an appeal for information after the beheaded animal was discovered by a member of staff at Homerton Grove Adventure Playground in Hackney, east London.

The head had been “carefully placed” at the bottom of a climbing frame in the playground, the animal charity said.

It said it believes the act was deliberate and labelled it “a uniquely disturbing situation”.

Michael Harrington, an RSPCA animal rescue officer, said: “This is a truly horrifying story.

“We were alerted to the discovery of a dismembered black and white cat head at a children’s playground on Monday last week.

“The investigation is ongoing, but first impressions appear to indicate that this was a deliberate act.

“The head was very carefully placed at the bottom of a children’s play apparatus and left in a way that it would be easily found. We have been informed that this particular piece of apparatus is one of the most used and popular things in the playground.

“This must have been a shocking discovery for the member of staff who stumbled upon it, but we are profoundly grateful that it was not found by a small child who could have been deeply traumatised.”

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The RSPCA said it had been unable to obtain CCTV footage due to a lack of coverage in the area.

The head is believed to have been left between 6pm on 23 April and 3.30pm on 24 April, it said.

The charity asked anyone with information to contact their appeals line.

“This is a completely unthinkable act and we very much hope someone will have seen or heard something that can help us with our investigation,” Mr Harrington said.

“There is a uniquely disturbing situation and we are keen to get to the bottom of what happened here.”

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