Men arrested after sheep attack

Four men have been arrested in connection with a series of knife attacks on sheep in Cumbria.

Dead and mutilated animals were discovered last week near Longtown, near Carlisle.

Five sheep had been stabbed to death, while a further seven pregnant ewes died from distress.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police, who described the attack as "horrible", said the four men, all from the Longtown area, were arrested on Monday.

The spokesman said: "Five sheep were stabbed to death and a further seven pregnant ewes died from distress.

"More are missing and these are presumed to have been stolen."

The four men have been released on police bail until late April, when they will return to Brampton police station.