SEVERAL sheep have been killed and injured on a nature reserve near Winchester following a suspected incident of illegal hunting with dogs.

Jayne Chapman, reserves officer at Butterfly Conservation’s Magdalen Hill Down, was alerted by a member of the public.

She said: “It was carnage. One of last year’s lambs had died from a throat wound, and another Hebridean ewe died 30 minutes later as I sat with her.

“She had managed to survive the night even though her throat had been ripped out by a dog.”

Two Country Watch police officers attended, as did volunteers to help transport the wounded animals to a barn for recuperation.

If anyone saw strange activities such as flashing torch lights at Magdalen Hill Down between 4pm on Friday, April 19, and 6.30am the following Saturday, they can report it to police on 0845 045 4545.

A similar incident on the site took place last December, leaving one sheep dead.