Five youths from a wider group of twenty crossed over a fence to deliberately attack sheep in a field in Lancashire, killing one lamb.
A lamb was found dead on Friday evening (18 May) after youths deliberately targeted sheep in a Hesketh Bank field, West Lancashire.
According to the local village news website Hubmaker, a group of approximately 20 youths had congregated on the Hesketh Bank Cricket pitch when five of them crossed a ditch and electric fence to attack the sheep.
Local residents had to put an end to the incident, which left all the sheep distressed.
The owners of the sheep attended within minutes and found one lamb dead.
The youths regrouped onto the Cricket field but had dispersed before Police arrived.
David Ball, Hesketh Bank Cricket Club Captain, said on a post on Facebook that he will be making "extra effort" to prevent youths causing trouble in the field.
Facebook user Gerry Taylor reacted to the news in disbelief. He said: "Does anyone get their jollies acting in such an abominable way? I realise that the majority of those youths were probably just being sheep themselves trying be part of the gang. But for the ringleaders I just hope they're identified quickly and publicly shamed. So sad."
Joanna Stevenson added: "What horrible people. Here's hoping they are caught and named and shamed!"
The Parish Council CCTV which monitors the area is being reviewed. If you have any information which may help the Police with their enquiries please contact them on 101.
