A dead vulture-like bird has been impaled on a sharpened post in a popular walking spot in Sheerness.

The animal has apparently been forced onto the wooden stake and is beginning to decompose.

It is unclear how long it has been in position or whether it was actually dead when it was left there.

The grisly discovery was made by Linda Campbell as she was walking with her two grandchildren in the Barton's Point model railway grounds earlier today.

Mrs Campbell, of Coronation Road, Sheerness, said: "My grandson looked over and said, 'look, there's a pheasant'.

"I went closer thinking it didn't look like a pheasant and then I noticed it wasn't moving, so I went a bit closer.

"Then I realised it was dead and had been tied to the post.

"My nephew, who's a bird breeder, has been down there and said it's definitely real and it's illegal.

"Hopefully, no kids will see it - it's horrible."

A representative for Barton's Point Coastal Park said it had no knowledge of the bird, but would investigate.