A COW was left with slash marks from a piece of wood with nails hammered into it following an attack on a County Durham farm.

Dunelm Veterinary Group released graphic images online of the animal which was attacked sometime in the last 48 hours.

Writing on Facebook, the Durham-based organisation said: “This is a cow which belongs to one of our clients.

“At some time in the last 48 hours she has been attacked by someone with a piece of wood with nails hammered in to it and slashed several times.”

A calf was also injured in the attack which happened on land at a farm in Wingate, near Peterlee.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Durham Police on 101.