A REINDEER has gone on the run after a wildlife park was targeted by animal rights activists for the second time in eight months.

The reindeer, along with a more common fallow deer, escaped from Bowland Wild Boar Park in Chipping and is now having to fend for itself in the wild.

Police confirmed the Animal Liberation Front has claimed it was behind the incident which saw holes cut in security fencing.

The loss of the deer, in the early hours of last Saturday, came as a severe blow to Bill and Jackie Bailey who run the park along with their son, Chris.

Alongside boars, the park keeps a mixture of reindeer and fallow deer and four of these made a dash for freedom when they saw the open fences.

Two of the animals were found on the road and were ushered back in to the park.

In September last year about 300 metres of fencing was cut in a similar attack but none of the animals were able to escape.

However, this latest attack has left the park owners badly shaken.

A park spokesman said: "Somebody had cut the fences and we don't know why.

"It's very difficult for us and is very upsetting.

"Some deer had escaped from the park, four in total.

"They were a mixture of reindeer and fallow deer.

"We've managed to capture two of them but there are still two on the loose.

"Whoever has done this vandalised some fences and that enabled the animals to get out.

"There's nothing we can do if people are set on vandalism like this."

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "There was damage and graffiti at the wild boar park.

"It is linked to the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and we are carrying on our investigations."

Police said they received an email from the ALF claiming it had carried out the vandalism at the park.

The park is home to boars, llamas, deer, goats and sheep and boar meat is sold through the on-site shop.

Mr Bailey was a pig farmer before the park opened to the public and was recently subjected to a visit from the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) who confirmed that high welfare standards were being practised on the farm.

The attacks on the Bowland park echo a similar incident that took place in Devon in January 2006.

On that occasion, 45 boars escaped after a wild boar farm was targeted by animal rights activists.

During that incident the fencing around the pens was cut open, allowing the boars to escape.