Sheep have died as a result of dogs running off leads in a field on the Isle of Wight, police have said, prompting an appeal for witnesses.

On the afternoon of Sunday, November 24, sheep were chased by a dog in the fields off Worsley Road, Newport.

One fled through a boundary fence and ran off towards Hunnyhill.

Three of the sheep involved in this incident died as a result of stress, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said.

Then on Thursday, November 28, at around 12.50pm, sheep were chased by a dog in the same field, and one of the sheep was later found wandering in a brook.

None of the sheep were reported injured or died on this occasion.

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Police are asking people to please keep their pets on a lead around livestock, and report any information to us around livestock worrying

A spokesperson for the force said: "We are appealing for anyone with information about these two incidents specifically, or concerns around livestock worrying in this area to please contact police on 101, quoting 44240511747.

"We also call on dog owners to be aware of ‘Operation Recall’ – this was implemented last year, with national animal welfare charities, including Naturewatch Foundation and the RSPCA, joining forces with police and the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) to raise awareness and help tackle issues of livestock worrying."

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary adopted Op Recall this year to ensure we are all doing what we can to keep our family pets safe, as well as livestock.

Livestock worrying is when a dog attacks or chases livestock on agricultural land or is at large in a field with livestock, which can result in significant injury or suffering and in the worst cases, death of the animals involved.

This also has devastating consequences for livestock keepers, causing personal distress as well as significant financial costs.

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, it is a criminal offence for a dog to actively worry livestock and dog owners risk prosecution.

The spokesperson continued: "We recognise that the majority of dog owners walk their pets in a responsible manner, but unfortunately there are a small minority whose recklessness puts the welfare of other animals at risk."