Police defend shooting of rare white stag on street in Bootle

Merseyside force says officers gutted' to kill animal after attempts to tranquillise it had failed

Merseyside police have responded to public criticism of their decision to shoot dead a marauding deer by saying officers were gutted" to have to pull the trigger.

The rare white stag was killed by police on Sunday evening after it spent nine hours running through Bootle town centre, despite animal welfare experts urging officers to let it find its way home.