Dog owners in Sandbach are being urged to keep their animals on a lead and respect the countryside after attacks on cattle in the borough.

Lockdown has seen an increase in dog ownership as people connect with new companions, but there has been an unfortunate downside say Cheshire East Council – an increase in attacks on farm animals when dogs are let off leads in the borough's beautiful countryside.

A dog attacked Longhorn cattle at Teggs Nose, Macclesfield recently, which caused great distress to the animals and also to local people, who witnessed what happened.

Six metres of drystone wall topped with barbed wire was demolished by the cattle as they tried to get away from the dog, at which point most of them received multiple lacerations from the barbed wire and stones.

The NFU Mutual say the estimated cost of dog attacks on farm animals in the first quarter of 2021 rose by a staggering 50 per cent.

They say a surge in lockdown pets and countryside visits, along with a lack of awareness about how dogs will behave around farm animals are believed to be driving the rise.

And they are worried that out of control and escaped pets will continue to wreak havoc over the summer.

NFU Mutual says numbers started to rise sharply last year when farm animals worth an estimated £1.3m were savaged by dogs – an increase of more than ten per cent on 2019.

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, said: "For very understandable reasons, there has been a huge increase in the number of people becoming pet owners in the last 15 months.

"With ownership comes responsibility though and I would like to urge all dog owners to remain in complete control of their pets when they are out enjoying our borough's many beautiful nature spots. Please keep your dog on a lead when anywhere near livestock."

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