Deer found beheaded in cemetery

The animal was found in Sunderland's Mere Knolls cemetery on Tuesday

The body of a decapitated deer was discovered lying in a city cemetery, investigators have confirmed.

Northumbria Police said the animal had been found in Mere Knolls Cemetery on Torver Crescent in Sunderland.

A spokesperson for the force said: "It was reported the deer appeared to have sustained injuries and was later removed from the grounds by the local authority."

The gruesome discovery was made shortly before 10:00 BST on Tuesday and anyone with information has been asked to contact the police.

Sunderland City Council said it had removed "the head and skin of an apparently butchered deer" from the cemetery on 8 April.