TWO rottweilers that are believed to have mauled a horse to death were shot by police officers.

Police received a call at around 1.40am this morning to say that two rottweiler dogs were attacking a horse in a field off Clough End Road, Haslingden.

When officers arrived at the scene they found the horse lying dead in the field after what appeared to have been a savage attack by the two dogs.

Attempts were made to locate the owner of the horse and the dogs, but when they could not be found the decision was taken to shoot the dogs.

A police spokesman said: "When we arrived there we found that the horse had been killed.

"It was deemed that the two dogs posed a significant threat to public safety and both were shot and killed by armed officers.

"We are still trying to trace the owner of the horse and the dogs and would appeal to them to get in touch."