POLICE are investigating after a three week old lamb was left “butchered” after someone entered a field and carried out the attack on the small animal.

An officer with North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force say someone went into a field at a farm in Over Silton between Northallerton and Osmotherley and killed the lamb, leaving its carcass in the field.

Police were called just after 9am on Tuesday, May 16. It is believed the gruesome attack happened sometime over the weekend, at some point on Saturday, May 13 or Sunday, May 14.

PCSO Iain McNeill, part of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force, attended the incident. He said the animal was not attacked by a dog, adding: “It looks like somebody has gone into a field and butchered it.”

At this stage it is believed to be an isolated incident, but farmers are asked to remain vigilent.

Anyone with any information about the crime, or who saw anything suspicious at the time, is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference NYP16052017-0096 or email; Iain.McNeill@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk