A sheep which was stranded on a cliff ledge near Aberdeen was shot dead after a rescue attempt was deemed too dangerous.

The animal became stuck on the cliff near Doonies Farm at Nigg Bay after it strayed from fields yesterday afternoon.

Fire crews were alerted to the plight of the sheep at around 5pm yesterday and at first hoped to carry out a rope rescue with the aid of the coastguard team who were also in attendance.

However, a spokesman for the coastguard confirmed last night that a rescue attempt had been ruled out and the animal had been “dispatched”.

He said: “We took the decision that it had fallen too far down the cliff and it would have put the crews at risk to try and rescue it. Sadly we could not save the sheep this time.

“The sheep was dispatched using a firearm by the farmer, the owner of the animal.”