Bradgate Park dog lead warning works

Bradgate Park, in Leicestershire, is a a medieval deer park and is home to herds of red and fallow deer

Dog owners will not be forced to use a lead in a Leicestershire park after a warning over deer attacks.

A surge in the number of animals killed by dogs in Bradgate Park prompted managers to threaten a lead-only policy.

But, after five attacks in one May weekend alone, there has only been one recorded incident since.

Manager Peter Tyldsley said that because of the warning, dog walkers had been more cautious.

During the winter, 30 deer died because of dog attacks

Over the winter months, 30 deer were killed in instances involving dogs. They were rarely caught by the canines but would die from exhaustion later.

"It's early days yet, [but] the issue seems to be under control. We've got no plans to impose the dog-on-lead policy," Mr Tyldsley said.

"What we were thinking was imposing the policy in June/July when the animals are calving and there's lots of young around. I can't say we never will but at the moment the urgency has gone away."

He added that police warnings and the threat of legal action had helped.

Bradgate Park, between Leicester and Loughborough, is an 850 acre (340 ha) area made up of a former stately home's estate and ancient woodland and attracts about 900,000 visitors a year.