DOG owners are being urged to take care when walking with their dogs through the countryside this lambing season.

Pendle Council is asking dog walkers to take extra care to reduce the risk to pregnant ewes and their unborn lambs.

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Tom Partridge, Pendle’s countryside access officer, said: “We’re appealing to dog walkers to follow the Countryside Code to keep their dogs under close control when using public paths.

“Keep dogs on a short lead especially near to farm animals.

“If a pregnant ewe takes fright at a dog running about, it is very easy for it to lose its lambs.”

There have been a number of recent prosecution cases in other boroughs relating to farmers and landowner shooting dogs that have been worrying their sheep. In some cases the courts have found in favour of the farmers.

Councillor David Clegg said: ““We want lambing season to progress without any unfortunate incidents in Pendle.

“Our advice is to stick to footpaths where possible and keep dogs on leads at all times around sheep.”

For details, call (01282) 661059.