POLICE are calling on dog walkers to take greater care when they are around livestock after a sheep was attacked in Staverton.

Witnesses are being asked to come forward after a dog entered the field off Marsh Road on Monday at around 8am and chased a number of sheep by the canal bridge.

As a result, a ewe sustained an injury to its leg and had to be put to sleep.

Two sheep were chased into the canal near to the Kings Arms pub, and had to be rescued by the fire service.

Officers attended the scene but there was no trace of the dog, which is believed to have been a lurcher or greyhound with short brown hair.

PC Tom Carver, of the Wiltshire West Community Policing Team, said: "When police arrived at the scene, there was approximately a dozen sheep loose on the tow path and two sheep were in the water.

"At this time of day it is likely that there would have been a number of dog walkers in the area, as well as parents walking children to school.

"If you have any information in relation to the incident, or may know who the owner of the dog is, please get in touch via 101.

"I would also like to remind dog owners to ensure their dogs are kept on leads near fields where there are sheep and cattle, to avoid a further incident like this, which has understandably been upsetting for the farmer."