A farmer is urging dog owners to keep their pets under control and if in doubt on a lead after one of his flock was mauled by a labrador.

Royston Crow: Rob Hodgkins has urged dog owners to keep their pets under control after his lamb was mauled to deathRob Hodgkins has urged dog owners to keep their pets under control after his lamb was mauled to death (Image: Archant)

Rob Hodgkins made the bloody discovery in a field just outside Litlington, off Royston Road, on Monday morning after being alerted by the dog owner.

Her labrador had chased and bitten an eight-month-old lamb causing injuries so severe that the animal had to be put down by a vet later that day.

Mr Hodgkins, who has a flock of 600 ewes and two sheepdogs at his base on land at Odsey, between Royston and Baldock, said: “There was a lot of blood. We tried as farmers to sort it out ourselves but later on that afternoon we realised it was still in a bad way and called out the vet.”

The 33-year-old moved to the area from West Sussex around 11 months ago and now wants to raise awareness among dog owners to ensure there are no other killings.

He said: “Keep dogs under control, in sight and if you are at all worried keep them on a lead.

“If you are not entirely confident that your dog will come back to you when commanded then it should be on a lead for everyone’s sake. A dog has to be under control.”