A DOG died after being shut into a disused badger sett.

The discovery was made on Saturday morning when a nature reserve warden noticed a badger sett appeared to have been disturbed.

Now RSPCA inspectors are investigating the crime at Gosforth Park Nature Reserve in Newcastle.

RSPCA inspector Gaye Bayliss said: "We found a heavy lump of wood had been stuffed down the entrance to the sett. When we moved it were horrified to find the body of a terrier inside.

"We're still waiting for the results of the post mortem but the amount of decomposition to the body suggests the dog had been dead for a couple of days - maybe since Thursday."

Because the nature reserve is closed to the public as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease, the RSPCA is concerned that a trespasser may have blocked the dog in after panicking when it became stuck down the hole.

The dog was a white terrier type with a black patch over his left ear and eye.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the RSPCA on 08705 555999.