Two seagulls have died after being lured onto a busy road by children.

Rescue charity Wadars said it was called to the A24 Broadwater Road, Worthing, on Tuesday morning after members of the public saw children throwing sandwiches in front of moving cars to entice the young birds onto the road.

One of the birds was hit and killed instantly as a result, while another had its wing so badly damaged it had to be put to sleep.

READ MORE: Are you allowed to punch a seagull if it tries to steal your food?

Tracy Cadman, Wadars operations director, said: “Our wildlife helpline team takes calls day in, day out about sick and injured wildlife and our rescue officers then attend the scene to rescue the casualty and take it to a vet or other a place of safety.

"We fully expect to receive those calls, but this was a blatant act, the aim of which was to kill or injure the gulls, which beggars belief.

"Whilst all birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Herring Gulls are on the UK Red List because they are in population decline.

"No animal deserves to be treated in this way and the gulls would have suffered greatly as a result of the action of the children involved.”

Sussex Police were also called to the incident by concerned members of the public, however this was believed to have been after the injured birds had been taken away from the scene.

A spokesman for the force said: "Police received a report of two people dropping bread off a bridge over Broadwater Road in Worthing on Tuesday morning (23 July).

"A witness reported concerns for wildlife and potential danger to road users.

"Officers attended to ensure there was no risk to the public or wildlife.

"No suspects were on the scene and no dead or injured animals were found."

The incident comes just days after another seagull in Sussex was injured as a result of human littering.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service had to rescue the bird from a location in East Sussex after a fishing hook pierced its beak.

It is now being cared for at the centre until it fully recovers.