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A farmer is calling for action after two of his sheep – carrying three unborn lambs – were mauled by a dog let loose by its owner.

David Mosdell says all five animals died within 48 hours of the attack despite dogs not being permitted on his land.

The 64-year-old, who owns Danley Marshes Farm in the Halfway area of Sheppey, lost 12 sheep in one night in 2015 following another incident.

He says he's disgusted by the latest deaths after previous calls for help seemingly went ignored.

Mr Mosdell insists restrictions or warnings signs need to be installed at nearby Barton's Point Coastal Park where some owners allow their hounds to roam freely.

He explained: "I got a phone call from somebody at the nearby caravan park who said they saw a Staffordshire bull terrier running from the farm.

"After the sheep were then found, they all died over the next two days after they were chased into ditches.

"So it's beyond frustrating and it makes me angry because nobody is doing anything about it.

"My wife is a little shaken up by it, especially given it's lambing season, but then again it's not the first time it's happened.

"There are dogs running everywhere even though they are not allowed on our land, and some of them are so far away from their owner.

"But there's obviously no CCTV on all the boundaries and land, so I've not contacted the police because even the person who told me didn't see an owner because the dog was just sprinting so far away.

"Nobody is of course going to own up either, so I have lost a lot of money as well because of it – in the region of £800 so far since it happened and that doesn't include all the damage it has probably done to the other sheep mentally and their lambs, too.

"All of it has just made me very annoyed because it's not the dog's fault – it's the owners who aren't acting responsibly and thinking of others.

"There needs to be signs on the boundary between Barton's Point and my farm that tell people dogs need to be kept on leads.

"I've also suggested more signs be put up at that end that tell you there's a farm with animals living on it.

"We also need a bigger wired fence that stops dogs from getting in via Barton's Point, and I've asked others before about contacting the council because that's where the problem is.

"I myself tried to contact the council a long time ago about this but had no luck there.

"We have already had to renew one side of the farm's fence a few years ago and that cost us more than £5,000, so we need help with a double fence as well."

Swale council has confirmed dogs are allowed off their leads in the area.

Although they acknowledge owners should keep them on leads if they are unable to guarantee the safety of other animals.

A spokesman explained: “It is an offence to allow dogs to worry livestock, and attacks on livestock should always be reported to the police who have the powers to deal with and investigate dog attacks of this nature.

“While there are no rules around dogs being kept on leads at Barton’s Point Coastal Park, there are rules in place around dogs being required to be kept under proper control at all times.

"We always recommend that dogs should be kept on leads if owners or dog walkers are unable to keep their dogs under proper control.”