A WOMAN has spoken of her shock after she discovered one of her sheep had been brutally attacked.

Charlotte Whittaker posted on Facebook graphic pictures of injuries her sheep Lola had suffered in what she believes was a dog attack on Sunday afternoon (August 19).

It shows the animal’s neck with bite marks and an open wound while Lola, one, also suffered a bite to her leg, during the attack at Slate Pits farm, Accrington.

Ms Whittaker, 23, who lives on the farm with her mum and dad and two sisters, now wants to raise awareness of attacks to avoid a similar incident happening in the future.

She said: “We didn’t see it happening but we had the vet up who said it was a dog attack with the teeth marks and the punctures.

“She was found in the field at the back of the house.

“We always walk up after tea to check on her and she was just there with Dottie looking sorry for herself.

“My boyfriend who is a farmer looked at her and sprayed the wound.

“My friend who is a veterinary nurse has been up and bandaged her up and cleaned up.

“She is okay but I’m shocked by what’s happened.”

And Lola the sheep is joined on the farm by her sister Dottie, seven other lambs and three calves which Ms Whittaker owns.

She added: “There is a lot of open land around the farm where people walk which I understand.

“But if people see livestock, they should respect them .

“This is the first time this has happened so I just want to raise awareness so this doesn’t happen again.”

It comes after similar concerns from farmer Tracy Pickard, who said one sheep has been killed and five others have been bitten by dogs in recent months on Bradley Hall Farm’s land in Great Harwood.