POLICE are appealing for information regarding the deaths of several sheep near Yelverton, which appear to have been killed by joyriders.

Seven sheep have been found run-over since the weekend, and witnesses have reported seeing a car being deliberately driven at them.

The sheep belong to Matthew Cole, of Greenwell Farm, Yelverton.

Mr Cole said the first sheep had been found dead at the roadside at Cadover Bridge, last Sunday. Three more were found dead between Yelverton and Cadover Bridge the following day.

?We thought it was a bit bizarre to find so many sheep run over in just two days,? he said.

?Then, yesterday we found two lambs with broken legs at Lynch Common. Unfortunately, they will have to be put down. We could see tyre marks on the grass where they had been chased.?

Soldiers involved in a night exercise in the area have reported seeing a car chasing sheep around the moor.

Mr Cole said he was appalled that someone would deliberately injure the sheep.

He said: ?The chances are it?s a one-off, but the point is it?s a disgusting thing to happen.

?The person responsible obviously thinks it?s fun, but it?s absolutely disgusting.

?Obviously, we expect to lose a certain amount of sheep on the roads, and we do see joyriders from time to time, but you don?t expect someone to do it on purpose.?

Cherry Seage, of the Dartmoor Commoners, branded those responsible as ?sadistic?.

She said: ?I?ve not come across this before. Obviously, sheep do get killed in genuine accidents, but I?ve not known someone do it deliberately before.

?That?s just sadistic, and I hope the police catch them and prosecute before it happens again.?

Dartmoor National Park Authority spokesman Mike Nendick condemned the culprits as ?callous and cruel? and urged anyone who knows anything to come forward.

He said: ?It?s quite amazing that someone would do something like this.

?We?re completely shocked by this deliberate act and would appeal to anybody with information to let the police know.

?It?s obviously heart rending for the farmer and distressing for everyone concerned.

?It?s bad enough when animals are killed on the roads accidentally. It?s unbelievable that someone could be so callous and cruel. I hope they?re caught and punished.?

The police are particularly interested in tracing the driver of a blue Rover 200 in connection with this crime.

Anyone who saw this car in the area, or who has any other information relating to this crime, should telephone Tavistock police station, quoting log reference 201 of July 7.