Police are hunting a young thug who broke a defenceless week-old lamb’s leg.

Passing motorists stopped to help the lamb as it was brutally kicked by the boy, believed to be as young as ten.

Witnesses saw him boot the defenceless creature into the air and then run off after he was challenged.

The attack took place in a field off West Street, Sompting, near Lancing.

The lamb, nicknamed Samson, was among 34 ewes and their young kept by student farmer Andy Pannell, 19.

Mr Pannell and his family have grazed a mix of Dorset, Jacobs and Cotswold sheep there for the last four years.

He said: “A neighbour phoned us to say there was a note pinned to the gate that the lamb had been attacked.

“The woman who witnessed it said she was driving along West Street on her way home when the car in front did an emergency stop.

“They got out and saw a boy who was about ten kicking one of the lambs so hard it was going up in the air.

“When we got down there it was running around on three legs because one of its back legs was broken.”

Samson was taken to Northdale Vets in Worthing where his leg was bandaged.

He has now been separated from the rest of the flock and it is expected to take six weeks for the break to heal.

Samson will be hand-reared by Andy's grandmother Sylvia Brown at her home in Worthing.

Andy, an agricultural student at Brinsbury College, Pulborough, said: “He is with another hand-reared lamb called Delilah, that is why we called him Samson.

“He is not doing very well at the moment so we will just have to see if he pulls through.

“Three youths were seen in with the sheep chasing them a week ago and we think this boy may have been one of them.

“We have reported what happened to the police and to the RSPCA and they are trying to identify whoever is responsible.

“I think what happened to Samson is disgusting. Who would want to kick a week-old lamb like that?”

Police at Shoreham confirmed the attack is being investigated.

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened on Thursday, should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.

For more information about crime in your area go to the local information section of this website.