Gruesome images of sheep found dead in a ditch have been released to show the carnage that can be caused by dogs not kept on their leads.

Six young ewes died at Street Farm, in Iwade, after it is believed someone’s pet ran loose among a flock, causing them to flee towards a gate, fall into the water and drown.

Mark Bowsher-Gibbs, GH Dean’s farm estate manager, said: “It is a most distressing scene but people need to see the result of this dog walker’s action.

Warning: graphic images below

“If people are walking their dogs near livestock please keep them on a lead and under control and stay on the footpath; any dogs found worrying the sheep may be shot.

“It’s not something that anyone wants to do, but who wants to pull dead sheep out of a ditch either?”

Shepherd Richard Frampton, who works for GH Dean and made the gruesome find.

He said the ewes involved were born last year and were yet to have their first shearing.

“These shearlings will cost £140 each to replace, but it’s the distress and harm to the livestock that is really upsetting, the financial loss is secondary,” he added.

A number of people walk their dogs along the footpath concerned - on land off Sheppey Way - but some have strayed from the public right of way.

As a result, farm staff have been padlocking gates to try and keep walkers to the path.

Sheep worrying has not been a significant issue at Street Farm, with just a couple of cases in recent years.

The deaths were reported to the NFU and the police informed.

NFU Sittingbourne branch general secretary Rollo Parsons said, reports of sheep worrying were “pretty common”.

He said: “The problem is more urban centres are expanding and more urban dwellers come into the countryside. They all get a dog but none seem capable of getting it trained or disciplined properly.

“They genuinely do not understand the implications of a dog running loose among sheep.”