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Several sheep and a horse are believed to have been sexually abused then slaughtered in a Satanic ritual in rural France.

Walkers found the sheep near the town of Perpignan in the south west of the country this weekend.

After examination, it was established the animals had been sexually abused and then stabbed, burned, strangled with wire, had their fleeces torn off, stoned and had limbs amputated, according to local newspaper Direct Matin.

An animal rights campaigner has filed a complaint with police who are now investigating.

On the same night, a horse was found dead and mutilated in the Loire region.

It had had its mane cut off, knees slashed and eyeballs removed.

Police are not currently linking the two incidents but they both occurred just before a key feast date in the Satanic calendar.