Villagers got a nasty shock on their way to work this morning after dead animals were strung up at the side of a busy road.

Five hares had been hung on fencing along Heath Road near Coxheath, close to the crossroads with Linton Hill.

One driver, Chris Gough, who works as a window cleaner, told one of his clients about the animals when he arrived at her home in Coxheath.

Warning: Graphic images below

Her daughter, Allie Woodward, who is a veterinary surgeon, was alerted to this, and visited the site to remove the bodies. She was helped by passers-by including Cllr Brian Mortimer, Maidstone borough councillor for Coxheath and Hunton.

She said: “They seemed quite fresh to me. I believe they appeared overnight, and have been there since before 7am.

“I have children who have seen all sorts of things in my line of work, but I would not want them seeing something like that.

"If this had happened during school term-time there would have been children walking to school past them this morning.”

Mrs Woodward took the carcasses to Trinity Vet Centre on Hermitage Lane to get a post-mortem examination carried out on the animals.

She reported that the vets found no wounds consistent with gunshot pellets or snaring, but a radiography exam showed fractured ribs and spinal injuries.

The hares had also suffered some deep cuts, which Miss Woodward believes are consistent with a dog attack.

Hounds are often used in hare coursing, which was banned in England and Wales by the 2004 Hunting Act.

This comes just over a fortnight after residents of Minster-on-Sea were appalled when a fox was strung up on a garden gate in Danedale Avenue after being snared.

A Kent Police spokesman confirmed officers had also attended Heath Road around 10am, and that the RSPCA had been notified.

They added: "Anyone with information regarding this incident should call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference 16-0294."

The RSPCA has been approached for comment.