A DOG attacked four sheep in a meadow near Upton Upon Severn.

The attack, which happened at Nash's Meadow, left one lamb dead and three ewes injured.

Following the attack, the owner agreed to pay the farmer's vet bills, but was reminded that sheep worrying is illegal and that dogs should be kept under control.

Rob Allen, reserves team leader for Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, which owns and manages Nash's Meadow, said: "We’re very lucky that the farmer whose sheep graze this site was on site and that more damage wasn’t done.

"We ask people to keep dogs on leads on all our nature reserves in order to keep our wildlife safe.

"Whilst this helps the less visible animals like ground-nesting birds during spring and summer and mammals like dormice that spend autumn and winter hibernating at ground-level, it also helps to ensure that any livestock is also safe.

"The dog owner in question has agreed to pay the farmer’s vet bills that have arisen due to this situation.

"It is, however, worth all dog owners remembering that it is illegal for a dog to worry sheep and that a person can be found guilty of their dog worrying without their dog having had physical contact with the animals."

Sheep, cattle and horses are used to graze many of the Trust’s nature reserves during autumn and winter.

Their grazing helps to control fast-growing grasses, which allows delicate wildflowers to thrive.

Sheep remain at Nash’s Meadows as well as at other nature reserves in the area and throughout the county.

For more information about the work of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, visit www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk

Through the period of 2020/21, a number of incidents like this one were reported, with three sheep being killed on land owned by the Malvern Hills Trust.

Dog owners are again reminded to keep their pets on leads while walking in open areas to protect not only livestock, but the dogs themselves.