FLOCK masters have been warned to keep a special watch over their sheep following a dog attack at Cropthorne.

Dog owners are also being asked to make sure their pets are under control after a pedigree Cotswold ewe belonging to Richard Mumford, of Upper Haselor Farm, Haselor Lane, was so badly injured that despite all efforts to save her she died.

Mr Mumford has been breeding Cotswold Sheep for many years and has a flock of 40 of the rare breed.

"I had nine pedigree ewes in a small field on the edge of Cropthorne and on Saturday afternoon I had a call from someone who had been out walking to say that one of them was injured," Mr Mumford said.

"I immediately went there and found the in-lamb ewe was very badly mauled on the leg and there were three patches on her back where there were teeth marks and the wool pulled out."

Mr Mumford took the ewe to the vet and had her stitched but she died shortly afterwards from her injuries and shock.

The ewe was worth £70-£80 but Mr Mumford said her value was not the issue, rather the suffering she was caused and the loss from a rare blood line.

"I have had sheep in that field for years and have never had any problems before," Mr Mumford said. "I would appeal to dog owners to make sure they know where their pets are at all times and to keep them under control when they are put in the countryside, especially at this time of year when sheep are coming up to lambing time."

Mr Mumford's appeal was backed by Ray Foster-Morison, NFU group secretary at Pershore, who said: "Ewes are very heavily in lamb at this time of year and people should be aware that their dogs can cause a lot of damage if they do injure or even scare the sheep."