THE owner of a young cow found strangled said the 16-month-old heifer had been a "particularly friendly" animal.

Moira Morley’s Aberdeen Angus cow was found dead in one of her fields off New Gardens in Whitby on Sunday, May 31.

It is believed to have died overnight after it was found with a rope tied tightly around its neck.

Two local teenagers aged 13 and 14 have been arrested by officers investigating the death of the cow, on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. They have been released on police bail to allow for further enquiries.

Mrs Morley said the gentle creature was exceptionally friendly. It had been born on the farm and was the offspring of her nephew’s pet cow, Fudgie.

“It was quite used to people, you could go up to it and put your arm around its neck and give it a cuddle. It was quite used to that,” she said.

She said the death of the heifer had affected everyone. She heard the news when a neighbour saw the cow lying in the field and thought it was giving birth.

“Somebody rang one of our neighbours up there, who are very good, and told them one of the cows looked like it was having a baby as it was laid on its side.

“My husband went up and we knew straight away it was dead by the way it was lying on the grass with its stomach blown up. We walked up and saw the rope. It was absolutely devastating. It’s given us all sleepless nights. It’s the first thing you think about when you get up.”

Mrs Morley said she had been heartened by the response of the online community to appeals for information.

“We’re very grateful to the people on Facebook and the press,” she said.

On Tuesday, The Northern Echo reported that an anonymous donor had offered a £1,000 reward to anyone who could provide information on the crime via Farm Watcher.

They approached Andrea Stephenson, from Weardale in County Durham, who runs the online community, which uses social media to alert rural residents to countryside crime or stolen property.

North Yorkshire Police said “despite some recent reports” they wanted to clarify they have not offered a reward for information.

Officers are still appealing for information from the public. They would especially like to hear from people who saw anyone carrying rope in Helredale Road, the Calla Beck area or at the park at Eastside community centre on the evening of 30 May 2015.

Anyone who can help officers with their enquiries is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option 2 – and ask for PC Neil Graham or Whitby police.