THE FARMING community of a Dales village has been left shocked after two lambs were found dead – after being shot with a bow and arrow.

Police are investigating the shocking incident which happened in a field at Ravensworth Castle, near Richmond, some time between Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23, when the two lambs were shot with an arrow from a recurve- or compound-type bow.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police are investigating the incident.

PC Mark Wood, Richmond rural beat manager and wildlife crime officer at North Yorkshire Police, said: “This is a terrible and cruel crime, and I would urge anyone with any information about it to contact me.”

He added that the bow used was a traditional style bow, not a cross bow, which made the shooting more unusual.

Farmer Jack Lynas was the owner of one of the lambs, but said he was unsure if his had been killed by the arrow or a dog because there was no arrow left behind but was bleeding from the neck.

However, the other lamb, owned by a farmer who did not wish to be named, was shot through the heart by the arrow.

He said: "It is an expensive looking arrow. I've never seen anything like this happen before."

If you have information which could assist the investigation, please dial 101, select option 2 and ask for PC Mark Wood at Richmond Police Station, or email mark.wood@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Please quote North Yorkshire Police reference number 12180112952 when passing on information.