Police have interviewed 12-year-old boys after a shocking video captured them 'playing football' with a hedgehog in a "sickening attack" that left the animal dead. 

British Hedgehog Preservation Society reacted angrily to the incident reportedly involving a group of youths in Hartlepool last week.

The video uploaded to social media and widely shared appears to show the youths kicking the hedgehog repeatedly on Erskine Road, in the Owton Manor area of Hartlepool.

Cleveland Police said, following the death of the hedgehog on Monday, July 22, officers have now interviewed two boys voluntarily.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “On Monday 29th July, two twelve-year-old boys were interviewed voluntarily in relation to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

"A third boy has been eliminated from the enquiry. Both boys will now be referred to the Youth Offending Team.”

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Fay Vass, chief executive of the British Hedgehog Society said: "This was an abhorrent attack. It is all the worse knowing that hedgehog numbers are in serious decline nationally - to the extent that they are very close to extinction.

"Every hedgehog is more precious than ever when it comes to protecting the future of this unique British mammal. To have heard about this attack was sickening.