FARMERS last night urged dog owners to keep tighter control over their animals after four lambs and a ewe were found dead.

Laurence Cawley

FARMERS last night urged dog owners to keep tighter control over their animals after four lambs and a ewe were found dead.

The National Farmers' Union said the cost to the industry of sheep mauled by dogs was estimated to be about £500,000 a year.

And the group called on owners to keep their dogs on leads whenever livestock was nearby.

The call comes after a flock was attacked at Preston St Mary, near Sudbury, late last week.

Police are investigating the incident in which four lambs and a ewe were killed and five lambs were injured.

A spokesman for the NFU said: “It is a big problem for the industry. We've worked on getting yellow signs which warn people even their dog can frighten sheep. We really do urge people to keep their dogs under close control.”

He said dog attacks on sheep were terrifying for the animals involved and affected the livelihoods of their owners.

Nobody from the farm affected by the latest attack was available for comment yesterday.

Anybody with information about the incident should contact Pc David Murphy at Suffolk police on 01284 774100.