PET owners are being warned to keep their animals indoors after three rabbits were deliberately killed at the weekend.

Two hutches were broken into in Northallerton on Saturday night. Two rabbits were decapitated with a spade, while another was savaged by a dog.

The first incident happened in Moor View Road when the rabbits, belonging to a family with young children, were removed from their hutch and laid next to each other before their heads and tails were cut off.

Bruno, a seven-month-old rabbit, was killed by a dog in the second incident, which happened at the Hart family home, in Meadow Lane.

The Harts were on holiday at the time and the remains of their pet were found on Sunday morning by a family friend.

Hazel Hart said: "We were greeted by this when we got back from our holiday and it just seems rife at the moment.

"I am absolutely appalled and very heartbroken. He was only seven months old and we are all still traumatised."

A similar incident involving a guinea pig happened in September, but police are not linking the incidents.

Police are asking pet owners to lock pets in at night.

PC Tony Slaney, of Northallerton police station, said: "I am not sure whether it is just kids who are setting their dogs on to rabbits or someone with a vendetta against the families, but we have carried out house to house inquiries and there have been no major fall-outs."