UK police are investigating a spate of incidents in which sheep and lambs were killed and butchered in fields in Northamptonshire.

Four farmers reported more than 40 lambs being killed and professionally butchered on their farms in the past fortnight.

Fourteen lambs were killed on one farm between Sunday 7 July and Monday 8 July. The carcases of 12 of the lambs were stolen and the remains left in the field, with another two killed but left at the scene.

Another 21 lambs were slaughtered and stolen between Tuesday 9 July and Wednesday 10 July, with their remains left behind in the field.

On Saturday morning, the remains of at least 10 sheep were found on another farm, while a fourth farmer found a lamb injured after being tied up with electric fence wire.

Northamptonshire Police have called for rural communities to report any suspicious activity.

Read more

Graphic pictures: young calves shot with crossbow

No roadside hedge-cutting allowed in August

CCN is a problem for calves and lambs this summer