Sheep put down after 'horrific' dog attack

Derbyshire Police said the sheep had to be put down due to its injuries

A sheep has had to be put down after being mauled by a dog in a "horrific attack", police have said.

Derbyshire Police's rural crime team were called at about 14:40 GMT on Friday to a farm in the Castleton area and found a sheep with "its face and ears ripped off".

The incident is said to have happened on a footpath near Mam Tor, where an off-lead dog cornered the sheep against a wall.

The sheep was not instantly killed and was later put down due to its significant injuries, officers said.

A spokesperson from the force said: "Yet again yesterday we attended a Derbyshire farm to witness the aftermath of another dog attack on livestock.

"This is so easily avoided by keeping dogs on leads when out in the countryside.

"We have taken the decision to release the images of the attack below with a warning to show what can happen when dogs are not kept on leads."

The force is appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

The BBC has decided not to show the images due to their distressing nature.