A LAMB was left to bleed to death after being attacked by a dog on the Malvern Hills.

The incident is the worst in what has been a spate of sheep worrying on the Eastnor side of the Malverns.

Shepherd Geraldine Holbourn found the Hebridean lamb by the side of the Worcestershire Way on Midsummer Hill last weekend.

It was part of a flock belonging to the Malvern Hills Conservators, and was destroyed humanely after the Conservators' shepherd Richard Smith was called to the scene.

After talking to walkers, Mrs Holbourn said she believed it had been suffering for at least one-and-a-half hours following the dog attack.

Mrs Holbourn said: "I am quite sure the dog's owners consider themselves to be animal lovers and responsible pet owners.

"Yet neither responsibility nor animal welfare were shown on Midsummer Hill that Saturday morning.

Deeply distressed

"Walkers who witnessed the miserable plight of the dying lamb, and who came to our cottage to seek assistance were deeply distressed."

Mr Smith said: "Leaving a lamb to die is almost as bad as having it savaged in the first place.

"We know accidents happen, but if they do, please tell someone, even anonymously."

Just two weeks ago, Mrs Holbourn's own flock, including seven lambs, was attacked in the paddock by a golden retriever.

Fortunately there were no injuries but both dog and owner disappeared.

Two weeks ago at British Camp, the former chairman of Herefordshire National Farmers' Union, Gordon Gilbert, of Canon Frome, was out walking when he tried to come to the rescue of a sheep and its lamb being chased by a terrier.

Despite searching, Mr Gilbert was unable to catch up with the distressed animals.

The current NFU chairman for the county, Paul Thomas, of Pencombe said: "Now ewes have lambs on the hills, it's up to the owners to keep their dogs in check."