ARMED police were called in as two out-of-control dogs caused carnage on a farm, savaging 37 lambs.

Now police and the young farmer left devastated after the attack on his flock have urged dog owners to be aware of the appalling toll pets can wreak on livestock.

Thomas Hadley, 23, said what he discovered at around 5pm last Friday resembled ‘carnage’, with dead and injured lambs scattered across the land he rents in Risbury, near Leominster.

Mr Hadley, who lives near Pencombe, said the incident involving two dogs will have cost him upwards of £10,000 but, more tragically, means the breeding line has been lost.

Armed police were deployed to the scene and a 64-year-old man from Risbury has been arrested on suspicion of being the owner or person in charge of a dog that is dangerously out of control. He has been released on police bail until October 16.

Two rottweiler-cross dogs were seized by police.

Mr Hadley was alerted to the attack by neighbours at around 4pm last Friday and had to travel from the other side of Worcester, where he was working, to get to the site.

“I found two dogs in the field eating one of the lambs. There were dead and injured lambs everywhere. It was carnage.”

He said a total of 37 lambs from a flock of 56 had died since the attack at the time of going to press, including those which have had to be put down.

A further 10 are still missing.

“I haven’t slept for three days and – what do we do going forward?

The remaining lambs are stressed, I am stressed, the whole family is stressed.

“We just don’t know what to do or where to go from here. Do we go out of sheep or just keep going and try again?”

Crucially, Mr Hadley wants all dog owners to be aware that their pets are a risk around livestock.

“It’s just to make people aware this can happen to anyone.”

Inspector Daniel Pilkington of West Mercia Police also issued a reminder that it is an offence for a dog owner and anyone controlling the dog to allow it to worry livestock on agricultural land.

“If this happens, individuals may be prosecuted or fined and ordered to pay compensation.”

“A farmer, landowner or anyone acting on their behalf has a legal right to shoot your dog to protect their property.

“We would like to remind dog owners to keep their dog on a lead at all times.”

Call police on 101 if you have information about this incident.