Dog warning issued by park following deer deaths

Both red and fallow deer live at Bradgate Park

Four deer have died so far this year after being chased or attacked by dogs off their leads, according to managers at a park in Leicestershire.

Bradgate Park has the last remaining medieval deer herd in the county and the deer there can be worth several hundred pounds each.

"But that's putting a price on a wild animal's life," said the director of the Bradgate Park Trust, James Dymond. "And you can't really do that."

The trust has now issued a plea to visitors to keep their dogs under control.

Sometimes the deer are physically attacked by dogs, bosses said, but the animals can also die after a chase, where they become so tired they die of exhaustion.

In at least four incidents in January and the first half of February, the trust said dogs had made contact with the deer, resulting in broken legs and bites.

The trust already has established rules in place and lets dog walkers know where they can walk dogs off the lead.

This applies to the half of the park above the dry stone wall up into the higher areas of the park.

"Being allowed to be off the lead still means the dog has to be under control," said Mr Dymond.

"If there is any uncertainty the dog won't come back, then they should stay on the lead."

He is reminding dog owners they need to be "fully confident" in their dog and to keep them close by to stop more deer deaths.