A farmer has appealed to dog walkers to control their pets after two of his sheep were savaged.

Chris Hodgkins lost a pregnant ewe and its unborn lamb to a dog attack.

Two days later a different dog mauled a three-day-old lamb so badly that it had to be put down.

Farmers have the legal right to shoot dogs caught worrying their livestock.

But Mr Hodgkins, whose family have farmed the South Downs for 28 years, sees that as a last resort.

He said: “We want people to be aware of what their dogs are doing when they are out walking in the countryside.

“We don't say they should be on a lead all the time but they should be kept in sight so the owner knows where they are and what they are doing.”

Mr Hodgkins, 57, and his family have run Locks Farm at Washington, near Pulborough, for 28 years.

He has a huge flock of 3,000 Romney sheep grazing on land at Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring near Worthing.

Mr Hodgkins said: “On Good Friday a black mongrel was seen attacking a pregnant ewe at Cissbury.

“Then on Sunday the lamb was attacked by another dog in the same area.

“We found the owner of that one and she was very apologetic and did not realise what her dog had been doing.

“The lamb had to be destroyed because it had suffered massive injuries. We will be sending the owner a bill for our losses.

“Six weeks ago we had to have another two ewes put down after they were attacked by dogs.

“We do have the right to shoot dogs caught worrying sheep but I would rather not be that confrontational.

“We are working flat out with the lambing at this time of year and we like to see people out walking with their dogs and families enjoying seeing the newborn lambs.

“But some of them are a little bit naïve about what their dogs get up to when they are out of sight.

“It only takes a minute for a dog to get in among the sheep and start chasing them.

“That is when a dog's natural instinct kicks in and it starts to bite the animals they are chasing.

“We don't want to have to shoot dogs we catch worrying our ewes.

“It is much better if we can get the message over through The Argus that owners should keep their pets under control in the countryside.”