VANDALS with a grudge against farmers could be behind damage to almost two miles of fencing on the Bowland Fells.

The netting fence, between Parlick Fell and Fiensdale Head, has had more than 60 holes cut into it in large 20-foot sections.

Dave Oyston, a United Utilities ranger in the area for nearly 30 years, said he had never seen damage on this scale before with repairs costing more than £3,000.

Police are investigating the vandalism, to the 3km fence which marks a boundary between United Utilities land and the Bleasdale Estate.

Mr Oyston said: "The vandals have done a comprehensive job to totally destroy this fence and it could be someone with a grudge against farmers or gamekeepers, but we do not know for certain.

"The fence is in the middle of nowhere and so they would have made a real effort to travel three miles up the fells to carry out the wholesale destruction of it.

“The fence marks the boundary between two big farms which are part of our environmental stewardship scheme to protect the heather mooreland and attract wildlife.”

The damage is believed to have taken place sometime around February 8.

Land Agent Caroline Holden said: "The fencing had been erected to act as a management tool, enabling sheep to be shepherded onto areas of fell where vegetation needs to be controlled, and to help local tenant farmers gather their flocks at certain times of the year.

"This act of vandalism makes the work of the tenant farmer so much more difficult."

The fence does not obstruct walking on the fells with stiles and kissing gates along the fenceline at regular intervals.

Anyone with information is asked to report it to the police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or United Utilities’ Estate team on 01200 454400.