Dogsey

An investigation has been launched after the body of a dog which had been beaten to death was found in a canal.

The Scottish SPCA was called in after British Waterways staff at the Falkirk Wheel made the discovery on Monday.

The black and white male terrier had suffered a severely fractured skull and broken ribs and officers said it had gone through "prolonged suffering" in a "horrifically cruel and brutal attack".

CCTV is being reviewed and officers have appealed for information.

A post-mortem examination concluded that the dog had died as a result of head trauma some time in the last week to 10 days and had its ribs broken with such force there was blood in its lung cavities.