A FARMER has pleaded with dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead after seven sheep were mauled.

One lamb died and six sheep were left badly injured after two dogs set on the flock near Blackburn.

John Pawson, of Pawson’s Farm, on the Witton Park estate, said the greyhounds had attacked rare Jacob ewes and lambs.

He said: “We had seven rare breed sheep. Two dogs got into the pen, killed one and ripped the others to bits.

“One lost both ears and four of the six lost an ear. Two were bitten badly on their back legs, one had a mouthful of flesh taken off its back, one out of its neck and one had a big bite out of its nose.

“It is horrible because they couldn't get out of the pen, but the dogs could get in.”

Mr Pawson said it was the second incident at the farm, off Buncer Lane, after three sheep were killed in October.

He said: “I got a phone call from Tony Entwistle, the park warden, who found them.

“We rang for the police because we didn't know where the owner was. By rights we could have shot these dogs on the spot, but as we are on the edge of the park we decided to let police know.

“The owner turned up and said she had unwittingly let the dogs off the lead and had no idea they would attack.

“She was genuinely heartbroken, but at the end of the day what her actions have done is cost us a lot more than just a few tears.

“One dog was destroyed, but one, unbelievably, was allowed to go home.”

A vet advised Mr Pawson that little could be done to help the remaining sheep as treating their wounds could lead to further infection.

Now he faces an anxious wait to see if they survive after the incident last Saturday.

He said: “We just want to raise awareness that we are here and this is our livelihood. The lady was 100 per cent genuinely sorry, but it shouldn't happen in the first place.”