Officers investigating the incident where sheep were attacked in Ringstead are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Dorset Police received a report that between 10am and 12pm on Saturday 27 August four sheep were the victims of a dog attack on land near the main car park at Ringstead.

Two of the sheep were found dead and two others suffered head injuries, losing their ears as a result of the attack.

Police Community Support Office Mike Sinnick, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “We are carrying out enquiries into this incident, which has resulted in the farmer seeing two of his animals killed and another two sheep left with nasty injuries.

“The area around the Ringstead car park would have been busy at the time of this incident on a Bank Holiday Saturday and I am appealing to anyone who witnessed anything to please come forward.

“We fully appreciate the impact attacks of this nature have on our farming communities and this incident serves as another sad reminder to dog owners of the importance of ensuring your dog is on a lead whenever it is near livestock.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/contact or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55220143693. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.