A ewe had to be destroyed after several were attacked at a Seend farm by what is believed to have been dogs.

Eight sheep were mauled in the attack at Great Thornham Farm during Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Farmer Digby Hawkins and his wife, Catherine, discovered the sheep at 7.30am on Sunday.

Mr Hawkins, 48, said: “We saw a big pile of wool and bloodied sheep, it was carnage. One ewe had its ear and skin off the front of its face ripped off. We called out a vet who destroyed it.

“Two other ewes had severe injuries, one had deep lacerations to the back of its neck, face and legs, but they are on a course of antibiotics and we hope they will be ok. The other sheep which were attacked have less serious injuries.”

Mr Hawkins added: “My wife spends a lot of time bringing the sheep on and it was horrible to see them in the state they were.

“I don’t know if someone came on to the farm with the purpose of getting some of our deer or stray dogs have wandered in although I think that’s unlikely.”