A ROGUE stray dog is being blamed for a “devastating” attack on a flock of sheep in rural County Durham.

The animal attacked ewes and lambs at Cockfield Hall Farm, Cockfield, near Bishop Auckland, sometime overnight on Tuesday or early Wednesday morning.

Joanne Bainbridge, who runs the farm with her mother Beryl, said the sheep affected were a mix of mules and texels.

“One had its ear torn off and half its face was gone,” she said.

“It mainly attacked the necks of lambs. It is absolutely devastating.

“There have been at least 15 lambs injured, along with two ewes, and some are dead as well.”

The sheep were part of a flock of 140 ewes and 220 lambs.

Ms Bainbridge added: “I don't know if it has just been one dog or more, but I would have said it was a very large dog and it has been in three or four fields.”

She said it was the first time anything like this had happened to the flock.

“We have had poachers going through with dogs before but we have never had any stock injured.”

She said although the dog may not have been trained to kill, it knew what it was doing, going for the lambs' throats.

The injured sheep were being assessed and treated by a local vet.

Ms Bainbridge made the gruesome discovery after taking part in Tuesday night's Farmwatch operation, which involved police from six forces across the north of England and hundreds of volunteers.

Sgt Simon Rogers, of Barnard Castle Police, said there had been no reports of anyone trespassing or poaching at Cockfield Hall Farm at the time of the incident.

“It could be a stray dog that has escaped from someone's garden or land and has run amok once it has got in among the sheep,” he said.

“The animal responsible for this will have been covered in blood.

“We are asking anyone whose dog comes back to them covered in blood to get in touch with us.”

Anyone with information should contact Sgt Rogers at Barnard Castle Police on the non-emergency number 101.