NINE sheep have been killed and 15 attacked and injured between the beginning of September last year and the end of January this year, according to Dartmoor Commoners' livestock protection officer.

In a report to the commoners, the officer said of the nine sheep killed, four were individual cases on Roborough Down and five were killed at Hemerdon near Cornwood.

Of the 15 injured sheep, ten were discovered on Roborough Down, three on Whitchurch Down and one each at West Down and New Bridge.

The officer said that there had been three reports of possible dog fighting activity on Roborough Down — the police had attended once, but no-one was found.

There had also been one alleged 'ritual killing' of a sheep on Whitchurch Down.

There were three individual cases of dogs being reported lost on Roborough Down, all of which were recovered — one of which was running loose for 20 days.