A North Devon farmer has dumped a dead lamb at his local council office in protest at attacks by dogs.

Peter Withecombe, 57, says he has had up to 60 sheep killed by dogs in the last five years.

Mr Withecombe, who farms at Northam Burrows, near Bideford, brought the dead lamb to a meeting of Northam Town Council and threw it to the floor.  He was demanding that councillors insist dog-walkers should keep their pets on leads.

“I wanted to show how much damage dogs are doing to sheep and lambs,” he said.  “I am fed up.”

Councillors and officials were so alarmed they called the police.  Police say they offered “advice” to Mr Withecombe, but he was not arrested.