A BIRD-lover says she is devastated after a stray dog went on the rampage through her farm, killing 25 of her rescued birds.

Elaine Connor, aged 45, of Wick, near Pershore, says she was met with "utter carnage" when she went to feed the geese, hens and ducks at her sanctuary in Wyre Piddle on Friday night.

"I went up to the gate as usual at about 7.40pm and was amazed that none of the birds was there to greet me," said Ms Connor, who had around 120 birds.

"I walked into the field and the sight that greeted me will stay with me forever.

"There was blood and feathers everywhere together with bits of flesh and half-eaten hens - it was horrific.

"And then I looked a bit further down the field and was just in time to see a dog shaking a bird in its mouth.

"It ran off when it saw me, but by then the damage had been," she said.

After phoning the police, Ms Connor and partner David Richardson, 45, set about trying to round up the remaining birds.

"Some of the geese had fled in terror and managed to escape on to the road," said Ms Connor, who has been looking after the birds as a hobby for four years.

"Several of the birds had escaped but some hadn't been so lucky and were dead or so badly injured that we had to put them down ourselves."

Ms Connor, with a surviving chick wrapped under her coat, joined police in the hunt for the dog but to no avail.

The dog is described as being as large as an English setter with a brown head and a white body with brown flecks.

"We don't even know the total number killed because we are still finding bodies," she said. "They were my babies and I couldn't put a price on what I have lost."

Police are appealing to anyone who recognises the dog to contact them on 08457 444888 quoting reference number 178C/250403.