Attempts to kill the deer, nicknamed Bambi by locals, had first been made on Tuesday due to fears it could cause a road accident.

But nearby residents, who had become accustomed to seeing the deer, today hit out at the decision to kill him.

Val Bell (54), whose Ellengowan Drive home faces out on to the cemetery, said she had been traumatised by the incident.

She said, “I heard the rifle shot and I was really upset. I called the police and they confirmed he had been shot.

“You’d see him nearly every day — just a lovely little deer. On Saturday morning, he was running around kicking up his legs and he was just so happy.

“I’ve been upset about this all weekend. I wish I hadn’t heard that rifle.”

Retired Derek Dickemann (42), also of Ellengowan Drive, said “I thought it was amazing that it was in the graveyard. It had a lovely red coat.

“I am very sad to hear it has been shot. Perhaps it would have been better if they’d drugged it then let it out into the wild. This is quite upsetting.”

Susan Gillanders (40), who works at Sainsburys and lives at Ellengowan Drive, added, “Why did they not just sedate it? Or couldn’t they have moved it somewhere else? I didn’t think they would be allowed to do this. It’s terrible.”

Ashiya Akram (33), a pharmacy assistant from Ellengowan Drive, also hit out at the decision. She said, “I think it’s cruel and barbaric. They should have moved the deer to a safe place.”

Bambi had made his home in foliage at the rear of the burial ground, which lies off Broughty Ferry Road next to the Craigtay Hotel, for some time, but experts decided he could cause a serious accident on nearby Dock Street.

Wildlife officer Sergeant Andy Carroll, of Tayside Police, said his “only option” was to recommend the shooting of the animal, although the final decision lay with the landowners Scotriders.

Deer officer Jamie Hammond of the Deer Commission for Scotland said he supported the police action.

He explained that tranquillising a roe deer was not as simple as it would be on a larger red deer.

He said, “Roe deer are only small and the dart going into them can actually damage them, breaking bone and tissue. In 40-50% of cases they die through the stress of trying to dart them.

“Even if you do it successfully and move them, because they are so territorial, it can have very serious welfare implications for them.”

Mr Hammond said unless the police could encourage the naturally shy beast to move of its own accord they were right to resort to shooting.

However, the killing was criticised by animal rights pressure group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

A spokeswoman said, “This animal, sheltering in a quiet spot in a cemetery, had caused no-one harm for two years.

“Yet instead of adopting a ‘live and let live’ view or even relocating this deer, officials decided to shoot the little fellow.

“Let’s hope public outrage convinces the authorities to choose compassion instead of violent overreaction next time they encounter wildlife.”