Carcasses blight NI beauty spot

The carcasses have lain on the shore for almost a week

A County Antrim council has agreed to remove rotting sheep carcasses from a local beauty spot, after complaints from residents and tourists.

The animals were found on the shoreline at Cushendun a week ago.

Visitors come for miles to the tranquil village but they are not impressed by the recent arrivals to the coast.

The dead sheep have lain across the river mouth in the area for almost a week and when the wind is blowing in the wrong direction, the smell can be particularly pungent.

Randall McDonnell: "They are in no way a health hazard"

However, Moyle District Council Chairman Randal McDonnell believes the council need take no action.

"The reality of life is that sheep die at this time of the year, some float down the river some come in from the sea, maybe they are coming in from Scotland and nobody has ever done anything about it," he said.

"Year after year it is like that and they disappear.

"But I do emphasise that they are in no way a health hazard and in no way a hazard to animal health."

However the council has pledged action and an environmental health spokesperson said workers would remove the dead animals from the beauty spot.