Sheep at a High Wycombe farm were subject to a vicious dog attack earlier today, forcing the heartbroken owners to consider putting them down after suffering horrific injuries.

At approximately 9.30am on Wednesday morning, an eyewitness said a ‘large black curly haired dog wearing a yellow harness’ jumped over the fencing on Ladys Mile Farm in Kingshill Road, High Wycombe.

The grazing animals were savagely attacked by the dog, which was then chased off the attack by a tree surgeon and gardener working on the neighbouring property.

The dog jumped back out of the field over high fencing surrounding the field.

Eyewitnesses said that the dog ran across the neighbouring fields after the workers chased it away.

It is a huge blow for JC Farming, who own the animals, after celebrating huge success recently when they won the Rural Oscar in the Rural Enterprise category at the Countryside Alliance Awards.

Carolyn McIntosh, from Ladys Mile Farm, said: “It is wholly irresponsible for dog owners to allow their dogs off the lead in the knowledge there is livestock grazing close by.

“If it were not for the intervention of the people next door, I am sure the dog would have attacked and killed more of the sheep.”

In a heartbreaking statement posted on social media, JC Farming said they were "livid and upset" following the horrific ordeal and shared graphic photos of the injuries the sheep suffered.

They said: "Sorry for the explicit post but we were horrified this morning when we had a call to say a dog was attacking our sheep “I find it an absolute disgrace that the owners have not even got the decency to wait and own up to what they have done.

“Please contact us with any information we do not want the dog destroyed we want the owner to put his or her hands up and be responsible dog owners.

“However, if the dog is found in our field again attacking our animals it will be shot.”

Police were called to the scene and Thames Valley Police have been approached for comment.

It is illegal to allow a dog to worry sheep and pet owners can be fined £1,000. Worrying includes chasing or attacking sheep and it can have serious effects on animals including stress, injury, abortion and death.

CLA South East advises dog owners to keep dogs under control and on leads around livestock and stick to public rights of ways.

Where a dog is in the act of worrying livestock and there is, or is likely to be serious damage to those livestock, call police on 999.

Alternatively, dial 101 to report an incident where the dogs are no longer present after an attack or to report problem dog behaviour.