FOUR fattened lambs destined for the slaughterhouse died as a result of a car accident.

Police were contacted at about 2.30am yesterday by a motorist on the Sadberge to Sedgefield road, in County Durham.

The driver said the road was blocked by sheep and when police arrived, they found the animals had escaped from a field.

One had been killed, and three suffered broken legs when they were hit by a vehicle.

The sheep belonged to Jean and Norman Hetherington, of Viewly Hill Farm, near Great Stainton.

Mrs Hetherington said the three injured sheep were put down in the morning by a vet.

She said she thought a car went through a wire fence on the edge of the field, allowing the sheep to escape on to the road, where another vehicle hit them.

The family has had the farm for almost 40 years and, although there have been similar accidents in the past which damaged the fence, the drivers have always reported it.

Mrs Hetherington said: "In the past, people have been decent enough to come and tell us or rung the police after an accident, especially when there's livestock in the field.

"It makes me wonder why they didn't report it, especially at this time of year, whether they had been drinking or something."

She said the vehicle that struck the sheep was likely to have sustained damage and the one that ploughed into the fence would have been scratched.

Mrs Hetherington said the sheep were due to be taken to the abattoir yesterday, after being fattened on the farm.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681.