A BLACKBURN farmer has appealed for help in finding two dogs after a horrific attack on one of her sheep.

Heather Clarkson, of Waddington Farm Riding Centre, Brokenstone Road, Livesey, said the sheep had suffered severe facial injuries.

The incident was the second at the farm in a matter of months -- another sheep was savaged by a pair of dogs in November and had to be shot after the attack went undiscovered for a week.

Mrs Clarkson fears the same dogs were responsible for both attacks and says there could be more worrying of the farm's 23 Jacob breed of sheep.

She was alerted to the latest attack by a passing motorist who she says saw two dogs running from the farm.

Mrs Clarkson said she would be taking the sheep to the vet but did not know whether they would be able to save her.

"We have got her inside now but we don't know whether she will survive," she said.

"She is an older sheep so it's a fairly strong couple of dogs that have done it. When they have done it once or twice they will come back -- they are lethal.

"We don't know what to do now. We have got the sheep as close to home as possible but it only takes the dogs to be let out.

"Once they get in a pair they behave like a pack. One gets to the front of the sheep and one gets to the back and they just tear it to bits. We would like the dogs identified."

The dogs were medium to large, chestnut brown and leggy, and both had collars and tags and were seen running towards the houses on the Leyburn estate. Anyone with any information about the attack at 3pm on Sunday should contact Heather Clarkson on 01254 664767.