Farmer loses 14 sheep

A NUTLEY farmer has called for greater care from walkers after 14 of his sheep were killed in one day by vicious dogs.

Henry Osborne of Misbourne Farm discovered the horrific killings earlier this month when he undertook a daily check of his grazing areas on the Ashdown Forest.

The sheep, which were in a fenced in part of the forest, had died from severe lacerations as a result of the maulings. To add to Mr Osborne's anguish, several more distressed sheep were found hiding under bushes the next day. Eight of these sheep later died as a result of their injuries, bringing the total number of casualties to 22.

Mr Osborne said: 'It was a massacre. The distress the animals would have gone through before being killed is heartbreaking. Some of them were found in streams, some found on the bank half dead.

'It's very distressing to us. The farming industry is in bad enough shape as it is. I can't afford to lose sheep worth 35 to 40 each.'

Mr Osborne's grazing is spread across 6,000 acres of the Ashdown Forest. Of that, only 1,400 acres is fenced in for cattle and sheep. As common land, members of the public are free to roam where they like.

The farmer added: 'If the owners know their dogs 100 per cent and know they can be trusted, then they can walk with the sheep and cattle. If not, they've got other parts they can walk on. But it's very difficult to be certain of your dog's actions in a field containing other animals.'

Inquiries into the attack are ongoing. If you have any information on the incident you can contact Uckfield Police on 0845 6070999.