Police are investigating after a butchered animal carcass was found.

It was discovered by Sarah Balldock as she was walking in Swamp Road, Old Romney, near Green Bridge.

Mrs Balldock was out with her son when she made the grim discovery, which included a carcass, a leg and a hoof which had been hack sawed off and an animal skin. She believes the animal might have been a deer or reindeer, although this has not been confirmed.

The leg had material around it, as though the animal might have been tied up.

Mrs Balldock said: “It looked like the animal had been killed by a human and then dumped. It was horrendous. I was very shocked.”

She reported the find to the police.

South Kent Police spokesman Rosy Alexander said: “Officers were called to the river bank in Swamp Road after a member of the public found a leg believed to have been butchered from a deer or reindeer. “The body was found shortly afterwards. It would appear that the animal had been butchered as it had no innards and the head had been removed.

“Investigations are continuing.”