THE owner of two sheep found butchered in a field near the River Wear has spoken of her horror at discovering their mutilated bodies.

The dead animals, one with its head and front leg hacked off and the other with its ears removed, were discovered on Tuesday evening by Dorothy Hepple.

Both animals had been stabbed before being mutilated, and body parts were found dumped in the river.

It is thought the attack took place on Saturday night.

Police have descibed the attack as horrific.

Mrs Hepple found the sheep in a barn, in an area of land known as the Butts, off the Market Place, in Stanhope, Weardale, County Durham. They were part of a small flock, owned by Mrs Hepple and her husband, which grazes on land near a caravan site.

Police believe youths camping in the area may have been responsible. "I felt absolutely sickened," said Mrs Hepple, of nearby Crawleyside, who went to the site with her son after noticing damage to a fence and railings.

"When you see a carcass with a punctured stomach, with half its insides hanging out, of a sheep that you've looked after and know personally in a way, you feel quite awful.

"We've had a lot of trouble down there with damage, but it's never been this bad before."

Because of the foot-and-mouth alert, the carcasses could not be removed until permission was obtained from Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs animal health officers.

Sergeant Frank Hewison, of Crook police, said: "We know there was some kind of all night party in this area from Saturday into Sunday, and the people responsible for this horrific attack may have been there.

"Whoever carried out this mindless killing will have been left badly bloodstained.

"There will be people who know who is responsible and I would urge them to contact the police as soon as possible."

District councillor Richard Mews, who lives near the scene, said: "I just hope the police catch them - these people are sick for doing this to animals."

Anyone who can help the police is asked to contact PC Angela Crampsie on 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800-555-111.