AIR rifle wielding yobs shot dead eight piglets and caused the deaths of six others on a Suffolk farm it was revealed today.

AIR rifle wielding yobs shot dead eight piglets and caused the deaths of six others on a Suffolk farm it was revealed today.

Today the pig farmer, who does not want to be identified for fear of being targeted again, told of the horrific moment his son called him to tell him 14 of his piglets were dead.

The sickening attack is believed to have taken place between 4.30pm on Thursday and 7am the following morning.

The dead piglets were discovered by the farmer's son on land in Little Blakenham near Bramford in the early hours of Friday morning, who immediately phoned his father to tell him the shocking news.

The pig farmer said: “My son called me to tell me there were eight dead piglets in the farrowing hut, which is like a maternity unit for pigs.

“At first I couldn't understand why so many were dead, so my first thought was that it could be foot and mouth.”

When the farmer arrived at the scene and took a closer look, he uncovered the actual cause of the pigs' deaths were shots fired from an air rifle.

He soon found that another six young pigs had been trampled to death by the terrified sows in the pen.

Mid Suffolk District councillor, Stephen Wright, owns the land on which the piglets were shot.

Mr Wright, who represents the ward of Barking and Somersham, said: “A similar thing happened on the same piece of land last year.

“On that occasion someone shot the front window of a tractor and completely blew out the rear window.

“It just makes you wonder why these people can't just leave things alone.”

Now the pig farmer has been left to pick up the pieces after last week's bloodbath.

He said: “It's not the cost of replacing the piglets that worries me. In some respect they are irreplaceable because they are already part of the production of the farm.”

- Anyone with information should call Pc David Clark at the Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.