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The RSPCA is appealing to Londoners for information after the dismembered head of a cat was placed in a children's playground.

A staff member at Homerton Grove Adventure Playground was opening the Hackney park for the afternoon on Monday, April 24, when she discovered the head of a black and white cat placed at the foot of a popular play apparatus.

Labelling the incident a "uniquely disturbing situation", the RSPCA believes this was a deliberate act but cannot obtain CCTV footage due to a lack of cameras at the scene.

Michael Harrington, an RSPCA animal rescue officer, said: "The head was very carefully placed at the bottom of a children's play apparatus and left in a way that it would be easily found. We have been informed that this particular piece of apparatus is one of the most used and popular things in the playground. 

"This must have been a shocking discovery for the member of staff who stumbled upon it, but we are profoundly grateful that it was not found by a small child who could have been deeply traumatised."

The head was discovered near the main entrance to the playground on Wardle Street at the time of its opening on the afternoon of April 24.

The RSPCA believe the perpetrator placed it there between 6pm on April 23 and 3.30pm on April 24.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the animal charity's appeals line in confidence on 0300 123 8018. 

"This is a completely unthinkable act and we very much hope someone will have seen or heard something that can help us with our investigation," Michael added. "There is a uniquely disturbing situation and we are keen to get to the bottom of what happened here."